CHEAPER BICYCLES SOON?
Tax incentives for bike assembling industry can promote cycling as a sport, says Zahid
ATTRACTIVE tax incentives for the bicycle assembling industry can be the launch pad to get more participation in cycling, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said yesterday at the launch of Jelajah Malaysia 2017 (JM2017).
He also announced an allocation of RM500,000 to sponsor the next “Jelajah Malaysia” programme.
He said cycling had been a sport for those with sound finances. Cyclists usually spend between RM2,000 and RM100,000, or more, to take part in the sport.
“If the government can encourage the local bicycle assembling industry through such tax incentives, we hope to see more people taking part in cycling,” said Zahid, who is also the JM2017 patron.
He said for those who preferred imported bicycles, the government could perhaps look at how to make it affordable. If it could not be done through tax exemption, one could consider bicycles with lower tax.
Zahid said he hoped that such incentives could be included in next year’s budget.
The deputy prime minister also called for stronger support to promote cycling.
“The presence of governmentlinked companies and corporate representatives can be translated as showing their support for cycling.”
Present were Sapura Energy Bhd president and group chief executive officer Tan Sri Shahril Shamsuddin, Media Prima Bhd chairman Tan Sri Ismee Ismail and Jelajah Malaysia chairman Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin Najib.
Sapura will send one team for JM2017, comprising 11 professional cyclists from Malaysia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Colombia and Spain.
Nazifuddin said the Gunung Jerai route was forecast to be the toughest elevated stretch of 1,250m for the 20 teams of the region’s oldest state race.
Organised by Life Pro Fit Sdn Bhd, the 53rd JM2017 edition, scheduled to be held from Oct 3 to 7, will see participants cycling 679.9km.
Aside from the 101.3km Kulim to Gunung Jerai route (stage four), cyclists will travel 162.1km from Shah Alam to Hutan Melintang (stage one), 145.2km from Lumut to Kuala Kurau (stage two), 138.5km from Kuala Kangsar to Kulim (stage three) and 132.8km for the Alor Star loop (stage five).
“We will see 11 teams from Iran, Australia, Korea, Japan, China and the Philippines,” said Nazifuddin.
The 2017 edition will have five jerseys to be won — overall leader (yellow), best young rider (grey), king of the mountains (polkadot), top sprinter (green) and best Malaysian (red).
Jelajah Malaysia is sanctioned by the International Cycling Union (UCI) as a 2.2-grade event on the UCI Asia Tour calendar.
Earlier, the “Ride with Stars Putrajaya” programme saw the participation of about 1,000 cyclists, including celebrities like Cat Farish, Vanidah Imran and Betty Banafe.