Malaysia Tourism & Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz said that the country will not host a Formula 1 Grand Prix after the current agreement expires in '18, according to Joseph Sipalan of REUTERS. When asked about reports that the country was considering halting the annual race, Aziz said, "After 2018 no longer. (From the) longer term perspective, it's probably the correct decision because it's more expensive and no longer that attractive." Malaysia had been considering canceling the race "due to declining ticket sales and TV viewing figures." Earlier in the day, Formula 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone "cast doubt over the future of the sport in Southeast Asia" (REUTERS, 11/21). In Singapore, Chua Siang Yee reported a day after "seemingly sounding the death knell on the Singapore Grand Prix," Ecclestone clarified his comments, saying that F1 "wants to keep Singapore on its calendar." He said, "F1's stand is to hopefully continue in Singapore. Everybody is happy to be in Singapore and (we) don't want to lose Singapore. ... My words were taken in a funny way. What I said was simple -- no decision has been taken yet. Negotiations are ongoing and will be sorted out shortly ... before the end of the year, I'm sure. We want to extend long-term. We'll see what happens" (STRAITS TIMES, 11/21).
