Azalina: Expenditure was for event with 3,000 athletes - The Star

PETALING JAYA: April 23, 2008 by Lisa Goh

“I don’t know, I am not involved.” This was Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said’s response to recent press reports on the Women’s Sports and Fitness Foundation Malaysia's extravagant expenditures.

“The report was not fair because it did not describe that the expenditure was for an event which saw 3,000 athletes taking part.

“I am just the patron (of the foundation), I don’t get involved with management and I don’t have a say in funding. I just cut ribbons,” she said after visiting Menara Star here yesterday.

Last Wednesday, an English daily reported that the foundation, in their annual report, had stated that their expenditures included RM2.1mil for meals and accommodation, RM710,000 for printing and stationery, RM242,000 for volunteers’ allowances, RM4.1mil for entertainment, and RM858,000 for travelling and transportation.

For income, it was reported the foundation received a grant of RM9.72mil from the National Sports Council, and another RM1.5mil from the Youth and Sports Ministry, formerly helmed by Azalina.

Two smaller amounts came from the Olivia Newton John concert (RM200,000) and Datuk Dina Rizal’s Sports Unite Sdn Bhd (RM110,000).

“Part of the funding was for the development of the athletes.

“The auditor admitted it was his error for failing to describe the total costing of the women's games, and he translated persembahan to entertainment, so the report was spinned as if the ‘entertainment’ was the minister’s entertainment,” she said.

Asked if she thought the expenditure was extravagant, she replied: “I don’t know. You have to ask the women’s sports foundation.”