MALAYSIA TO BID FOR 2019 ASIAN GAMES

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will bid to host the 2019 Asian
Games.

This was announced by Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek who said
his ministry would inform the Cabinet about this to get its approval for the
bid.

"Malaysia has the experience to host world-class games like when we hosted
the Commonwealth Games in 1998. I believe with that experience Malaysia can host
the Asian Games," he told reporters here Friday.

Ahmad Shabery said this after attending the officiating of the Malaysian
Sports Industry Convention 2009 which was done by Prime Minister Najib Razak
here Friday.

He said the various international standard sports facilities at the Bukit
Jalil Sports Complex will also be a basis for the bid process.

Ahmad Shabery said the Asian Games were more prestigious than the
Commonwealth Games.

He hoped that all quarters would come together and cooperate with the
government to ensure that Malaysia won the bid to bring the games to Kuala
Lumpur.

The 2010 Asian Games will be held in Guangzhou, China and the 2014 games in
Incheon, South Korea.

On another development, Ahmad Shabery said the area around the National
Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil will be developed into a one-stop centre for all
sports activities including having stores that sold sports equipment.

"The ministry has appointed a consultant to study the proposal to make the
sports complex area a sports city," he said.
-- BERNAMA