RM1m for ex-Ferrari F1 boss to promote Malaysia
Written by Sharon Tan, The Edge
Tourism Malaysia has allocated RM1 million for former Ferrari F1 boss Datuk Seri Jean Todt to promote the country.
The sum is for a two-year budget that has been set aside for Todt, who was appointed ambassador for Tourism Malaysia in May.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen was clarifying a statement by Azmin Ali (Gombak-PKR) that Todt was offered RM1 million to be ambassador for Tourism Malaysia.
“The RM1 million allocated to him is not cash to him,” said Ng. “It is given when he travels, and whenever he meets people.
So this is a two-year budget set aside for him.
“We need him to go and promote the country. When you want to go on a promotion in Europe, RM1 million gets you nothing. So yes, he has been allocated the money, but not in his pocket. It is in the ministry,” she said during a press conference at the parliament lobby on June 24.
Ng said Todt’s presence and connectivity in Europe and around the world would be able to bring more visibility to Malaysia.
“We also want him to promote the Malaysia My Second Home programme,” she said. Tourism Malaysia would spend accordingly and would be transparent and accountable, said Ng. The money would be used on air tickets and meetings.
Ng said that Tourism Malaysia had yet to spend the allocation for Todt.
“This budget is not for his pocket. This budget is for expenses incurred when he needs to go (and) meet people such as top media people or top television people,” she said, adding that Todt also arranged for her to meet top film producers while she was in Paris.
She said the appointments would not have been possible without his help.
Ng also dismissed Azmin’s allegation that Todt and his fiancee Datuk Michelle Yeoh were offered a piece of land in Pulau Besar, Terengganu.
Earlier, Azmin had raised the question in the House during the question and answer session but Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Sulaiman Taib Mahmud had refused to answer as it was not related to the original question.
