King and PM to grace F1 grand dinner
BY AUDREY EDWARDSPETALING JAYA: The promised razzle-dazzle of the grand dinner tomorrow to mark the Malaysian leg of the Formula One world championship has attracted a full house for the gala event.
“All the tables have been snapped up,” said an excited Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir, chairman of the Sepang International Circuit, about the star-studded Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix Ice Gala that will be graced by the King and Queen and the “Who’s Who” in F1 racing.
The tag of RM25,000 to RM200,000 per table did not stop socialites, politicians, dignitaries and local celebrities from grabbing seats at the ultimate social event of the year which would be held at the Mandarin Oriental in Kuala Lumpur.
Grammy winner Diana Krall and Malaysian Idol Jaclyn Victor will be performing at the dinner where a charity auction will be held to raise funds for tsunami victims.
“We are completely sold out. The seats were bought by mainly Malaysians and multi-national companies,” Mokhzani said.
He added that with the extensive list of luminaries, including F1 drivers from the Ferrari, Wiliams BMW, Sauber Petronas and Jordan teams expected to attend, it would be a truly glitzy event.
And although the race itself is already a people magnet, he said that events such as this would be used as an entertainment tool to introduce Malaysia to both locals and foreigners alike.
“It is a social event where the public, dignitaries and government leaders can mingle,” he said, adding that it was part of a five-year development plan that also included seminars.
“It is not only for celebrities. I will squeeze every ounce of publicity possible to promote the F1 here.
“If there is anything that will add to the media hype, I will do it,” he said.
Scheduled to attend the high-profile event are the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Cabinet members, former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, F1 drivers and team principals.
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