Farmer Alfalfa wrote:
> "Ian Teelan" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
>
news:[email protected]...
>> For anyone interested (or who forgot to set video) my TV guide mentions Tour of Langkawi as being
>> on in early hours of Thursday 13th March on Channel 4 TV between 01:55 and 02:25 hours (TV Plus
>> Code 9617961).
>
> I was fortunate enough to witness the closing stage of this event first-hand on a visit to
> Malaysia in 2000.
>
> The Tour of Langkawi is really a Tour of Malaysia although it probably started in Langkawi, a
> duty-free tourist island off Malaysia's North Western coast.
>
> Needless to say it's an event which is a source of much pride for both the nation and its rather
> less than diplomatic president Dr Mahatir Mohammed.
>
> That year Dr M decided to milk the occasion by dressing up in a Yellow Jersey in order to present
> the winner's prize to Chris Horner. Now some dignitaries can carry this off (cf Nelson Mandela in
> 1995), others just look stupid - I'll leave you to guess which one it was in this case.
>
> When it was his turn to take the mike he decided that not only were his nation's internal problems
> fitting subject material for his presidential speech but that this was a good opportunity to
> exacerbate them.
>
> He started off with "Malaysia is a nation of many races and cultures. Some say we scratch each
> others' faces but really we only scratch each others' back so that's OK."
>
> Dr M and his party are Malay the predominant culture but often historically less prosperous than
> the Chinese with whom they share the peninsula. This has, needless to say, been the greatest
> source of Malaysia's social unrest so jolly old Mahatir in his inimitable style carries on "I'd
> just like to thank you all for the support the nation has given this race - especially yesterday
> during the Tour of Selangor. I'm glad so many of you thought the race more important than the
> Chinese New Year"
>
> F A
My husband and I were also extremely fortunate to be at the final stages of the 2000 race. Were you
there as guests of First Cartel?? Just wondered if we may have met. From my recollection Dr, M - who
is actually the Prime minister, not president!! And Datuk Wan Lokman of Race orgainisers First
Cartel, were both presented with Race Jerseys, by if I recall correctly, the Mercury team, and were
invited to put them on, Which with much hillarity and to the crowds delight they did.
--
Jan _o -\<, () / ()
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