Bandar Malaysia named title sponsor for Malaysia Open 2020

(From left) Asian Tour director of partnerships Charlie Tingey, Tan Sri Lim Kang Hoo’s representative Datuk Majid Manjit Abdullah, Mohd Anwar, Olympic Council of Malaysia president Datuk Seri Mohamad Norza Zakaria and Arep unveiling the new Bandar Malaysia Open 2020 logo at the Kota Permai Golf & Country Club in Shah Alam, Selangor.

SHAH ALAM: After a four-year absence, the Malaysia Open makes a welcome return in two weeks when the 55th edition tees off at Kota Permai Golf & Country Club with a new title sponsor and a new name.

Bandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd has been named the title sponsor for the historic championship this year,  thus it will be known as the Bandar Malaysia Open. 

Bandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd is the master developer of Bandar Malaysia, a 486-acre (196.7ha) mixed development in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

“The much-storied championship is the pride of Malaysia’s golfing community and we are happy that Bandar Malaysia shares our passion in growing the profile of golf in this country. Having Bandar Malaysia on board as the title sponsor certainly adds prominence to this world-class professional event and we look forward to an exciting week come March 5 to 8,” said Tan Sri Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor, president of tournament custodian Malaysian Golf Association, during a press conference at the Kota Permai Golf & Country Club yesterday.

The Malaysia Open was last held in 2015 as a joint Asian Tour and European Tour event at TPC Kuala Lumpur but was discontinued when title sponsor Maybank decided to stage its own event. This year’s tournament will see a modified platform, sanctioned by the Asian Tour in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour, with 40 spots reserved for Malaysian players. The Malaysian spots will be allocated to 30 professionals and 10 amateurs, including four junior golfers.

With the tag line “Pride, Passion, Prominence”, the Bandar Malaysia Open offers a total prize fund of US$1 million (RM4.16 million) with US$180,000 for the winner.

Bandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd is 60% owned by IWH-CREC Sdn Bhd, a joint venture between Iskandar Waterfront Holdings Sdn Bhd (IWH) and China Railway Engineering Corp (M) Sdn Bhd. The remaining 40% is held by TRX City Sdn Bhd, wholly owned by the Minister of Finance Inc.

“The Bandar Malaysia Open offers the opportunity for Malaysian players — professionals and amateurs — to compete against the best players from the Asian and Japan tours. This professional event will certainly put Malaysia on the regional golfing map and it is an honour for us to play our part in making the Bandar Malaysia Open a huge success,” IWH executive vice-chairman Tan Sri Lim Kang Hoo said.

The tournament’s other sponsors are Tree Technologies and Tourism Malaysia (co-sponsors), Kota Permai Golf & Country Club (host venue), Mazda (official car), Sunway Clio Hotel (official hotel), 100PLUS (official drink), Callaway (official equipment), Titoni (official timekeeper), Crest Link (official apparel), Kenwood (official communications) and Luen Heng (official spirits).

The Edge and Malay Mail are the media partners, and Golf Malaysia the official magazine. The championship is also supported by TM unifi, Red Crescent and Shah Alam City Council.

The Bandar Malaysia Open is promoted by a new sports marketing company, Winning Matters Sdn Bhd, headed by chief executive officer Arep Kulal.

The Bandar Malaysia project occupies the former Royal Malaysian Air Force base in Sungai Besi, which includes a nine-hole golf course of Kelab Rekreasi Angkatan Tentera (Armed Forces Recreation Club). The golf course will cease operations next month and the club will move to a new site in Sedayan, near Seremban.

Kota Permai Golf & Country Club also hosted the Malaysia Open in 2008 when India’s Arjun Atwal won a play-off against defending champion Peter Hedblom of Sweden. Crafted by Australian architect Ross Watson, the par-72, 6,328m Kota Permai course, rated as one of the best in Asia, is renowned for slick and challenging greens.

-www.theedgemarkets.com