“HOUSE IN ORDER” SAYS MALAYSIAN CONTINGENT CDM

P.Vijian

NEW DELHI, Sept 30 (Bernama) -- "House is in order and work is progressing
at high speed" was how Malaysia's chef-de-mission (CDM) Abdul Halil
Abdul Mutalib described the current condition of the New Delhi Commonwealth
Games village.

Abdul Halil, along with about 90 Malaysian athletes arrived in Delhi last
night, to participate in the 19th edition of the games that kicks off this
Sunday in the Indian capital.

"My first impression when I arrived at the airport was quite impressive. The
(Indian welcoming) reception and the arrangements from the airport to the games
village was above average.

"We even had an armed guard in our bus that gave us confidence about our
security," he told the media at the games village.

Until today about 118 Malaysians have arrived in Delhi and begun their
training at the newly build but controversial-hit games village, where
conditions were in appalling conditions earlier.


But the Indian organisers, who came under severe international criticism and
pressure, are busy giving a new facelift to the village, where nearly 7,000
athletes from 71 games organizations would be staying and training for the next
two weeks.

Abdul Halil said he has yet to meet the respective team managers to get
their feed back but expects to hold a meeting with Malaysian officials
later today (Wednesday).

"The advance seven-member Malaysian team which arrived here and the Malaysia
High Commission in Delhi, with the help of Indian officials, did a good job to
ensure everything was okay in the village," he added.

The strong Malaysian contingent would take part in 14 of the 17 sports
hosted by New Delhi from Oct 3 to 14.

He also said "I haven't seen any mosquitoes in my room", when asked to
comment on the threat of dengue in the city.

--BERNAMA