SEPTEMBER 7, 1998
Malaysian problems?
THE Malaysian Grand Prix may again be in trouble following moves last week by the country's Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Muhammad to isolate the Malaysian economy from the rest of the world.
The freezing of the Malaysian economy is going to make it very difficult for Formula 1 to operate in the country, although the race may well end up being paid for entirely by the state oil and gas company Petronas, which deals exclusively in dollars - the currency of the world's energy markets.
Petronas is currently keeping several ailing Malaysian businesses afloat and is expanding all the time in Africa. Last week Petronas bid to buy South Africa's oil group Engen. In addition to its involvement with Sauber in Grand Prix racing, Petronas is also deeply involved in South African motorsport.