KUALA TERENGGANU: Terengganu is looking at the possibility of continuing with the prestigious Monsoon Cup sailing event for another season after its maiden agreement ends in 2012.
Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said said he would review the contents of the existing agreement before announcing the state government’s decision on whether to continue with the championship beyond 2012.
“If the event is of an advantage to the people and the state, we will surely consider an extension. Our main objective is to ensure that Monsoon Cup works as a catalyst for the state’s development,” he said on Thursday.
The agreement between the state government and the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) was first inked in 2005 when the inaugural regatta was held at Pulau Duyong here.
The fate of the Monsoon Cup after 2012 has been uncertain with speculation that the event would be discontinued once the agreement expires.
However, with Ahmad meeting Monsoon Cup adviser Datuk Peter Gilmour on Thursday, there were signs that the event would stay in Terengganu.
Ahmad would not divulge what happened at the meeting, but said: “I just got an update of this year’s match from him. Let me study the contents of the agreement and get feedback from those in the fraternity before announcing the state’s decision.”
The Monsoon Cup serves as the Malaysian leg for the international event, dubbed “The Formula One of Sailing”, which was formed in 2000 to unite the world’s best match-race regattas under one banner.
The racing tour comprises nine events in different locations around the world with the Monsoon Cup being the final leg.
Thirteen teams will be meeting in the waters off Terengganu from Dec 2 to Dec 6 to battle for the championship trophy.
State Tourism, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Zaabar Mohd Adib said Terengganu intended to promote Monsoon Cup globally as part of an extreme water sports package soon.
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