With Singapore now firmly on Bernie Ecclestone's F1 radar, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi has reaffirmed his country's desire to continue hosting a round of the world Championship.

Launching the promotion of the ninth running of the Malaysian Grand Prix in Kuala Lumpur last night (Tuesday), Abdullah said: "I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that we will take all efforts to ensure Formula One will continue to be a permanent feature for Malaysia.

"It has always been a key tool for the Government in enhancing the country's image and in the promotion of Malaysia as a leading international tourist destination," he added, according to The Star. "Moreover, Formula One has also done much in terms of developing motorsports in the country."

The bottom line for Malaysia, as it is with all the nations now queuing to get on the F1 bandwagon is the prestige of hosting an event on the world stage, to attract not only the tourists, but businesses, to get the message clearly across your country has arrived.

"To put things into perspective," said Abdullah, "an average of 40,000 international fans - in addition to tens of thousands local fans - have come to the Sepang circuit each year since its inception to catch the Malaysian round of the Formula One World Championship.

"Some 600 million more viewed it live via television broadcasts," he added. "Effectively, that makes the Malaysian GP as the single biggest event to showcase Malaysia to the international audience and to attract foreign tourists."