PUTRAJAYA, Nov 23 — Malaysia will push and play its part for a future where electric cars are the mainstay of the day.
“I think the way forward is electric cars. We must go electric,” Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday after attending the inaugural Putrajaya Formula E race.
“It’s the future. And you talk about carbon emission, I think all cars should be electric one day.”
He said the key was to produce batteries which were cheaper and lasted longer.
On the race itself, Najib said the Putrajaya street circuit was ideal for Formula E races.
“We will try to continue with it.”
He said the race had managed to showcase Malaysia and the country’s administrative capital to 120 countries that telecast it “live”.
Najib said the race, which is the second race in the FIA Formula E Championship calendar after Beijing, was an “excellent” race.
“It was very exciting and the circuit is lovely. Everybody is happy. I’ve talked to the drivers and organisers, and they are happy.”
Formula E Malaysia Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Seri Johann Young said there were about 91,000 people who came in with general admission ticket and another 3,000 were on the grandstands, adding that the “live” broadcast was also the best branding one could get for the country.
“It has been a great success for Malaysia,” Young said.
Young said the crowds were spread out throughout the circuit area and they were treated to various entertainment by way of the cultural and e-villages.
When asked about teething problems faced by the organiser, he said they would continue improvng on it.
“It’s our first year. It takes time to learn what mistakes we made,” he said, adding that a post-mortem would be carried out.
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad also said the race was a “good thing” as it promoted the country overseas.
“They have a chance to see Malaysia and also Putrajaya. I feel good.”
