Najib in London to Kautim the British

The proposed sports training center in Britain has only been agreed to in principle andnothing has yet been approved.

Najib said his Cabinet committee on sports never authorised a RM490mil budget, and he was surprised how the figure appeared in media reports.



NST on 11th July had reported on the $490 million cost and the article referred to Sports Minister, Azalina's reply to Lim Kit Siang's question. Najib said he did not expect the cost of the project to reach RM490mil.

However, Najib is in Britain for a week to attend the Farnborough International Airshow 2006 and to hold meetings with several British ministers.

Is there a catch?

Oh, maybe!!!


Najib is in London and news report said that Malaysia plans to buy two British frigates and eight Italian training aircraft as part of the long-term programme to beef up its defence system.

Najib said discussions were under way with BAE Systems to build the two vessels in Labuan under the Government’s programme to help the Malaysian shipbuilding industry and provide jobs to locals.


“The two new vessels will be the most-advanced warships to be constructed in Malaysia,” he said after meeting British Defence Procurement Minister Lord Paul Drayson at the Farnborough International Air Show 2006 at Hampshire yesterday.


Has this got to do with Cherie's visit to Malaysia?

The PM's car was used to transport her to the court.

Is it the reason that Azalina and Najib dared to pronounce that the sports center in London would move ahead despite the fact that no approval by the British authorities were sought?

The Sun reported that "No application has been made to extend or convert the land use of the Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre in Brickendonbury, London, to include a sports facility ­ and even if there was, the local council would reject them."

Nicholas Wilson, a councillor and former mayor for East Hertford said the land is deemed for research and development, thus "it would be very hard to change the use of the centre".

Will the purchase of the military hardware be a trade-off with the sports center approval?

As a Malaysian, I believe so, as this is our culture and business style. It's called Kautim Management. I believe, the approval will be given.