Liow Tiong Lai
Before the first modern race took place, Malaysian Sports Minister Azalina Othman Said said that the proximity of the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, which hosts the Malaysian Grand Prix and is about 300 kilometres from Singapore, would create unhealthy competition. The Malaysian Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Liow Tiong Lai stated that the Malaysian government is unconcerned about possible competition from Singapore. But this concern came to an end after Malaysia decided to withdraw from the Formula One calendar after 2017.