Part of Man City game proceeds to go to Yayasan 1MDB

KUALA LUMPUR -- Sixty per cent of the proceeds from ticket sales of the football match between Manchester City FC and the Malaysian national team here on July 30 will be donated to Yayasan 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Berhad), a foundation established to help Malaysians in education and healthcare, it was announced today.

1MDB said in a statement that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Manchester City FC had agreed to this charity initiative.

In addition, 1MDB said there would also be special accessibility pricing for thousands of tickets to ensure that passionate Malaysian football fans would have the opportunity to watch their national team take on Manchester City FC, which will have players like Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and Carlos Tevez.

1MDB said the donation and pricing strategy was made possible following recent conversations and pre-existing positive relations between Najib and both the club’s owner and chairman.

Confirming the joint initiative, the statement quoted Najib as saying that the pricing policy and donation we have agreed upon enables us to combine Malaysia’s love of football with a strong charitable element from which thousands will benefit.  

"I very much welcome Manchester City and look forward to an exciting game against our national team. I am sure that not only will our fans be in for an exhilarating treat, but also that our players will gain much from the experience of playing such accomplished opposition."

Manchester City’s interim Chief Executive Officer John MacBeath said: "We appreciate enormously the Prime Minister’s warmth and openness and the welcome of the Malaysian people in all of our interactions to date.

"As a mark of this appreciation, we are pleased to agree a meaningful initiative with the country and are delighted to make this game accessible to as wide a local audience as possible."

Yayasan 1MDB Board of Trustees Member Tan Sri Lodin Wok Kamaruddin said Yayasan 1MDB was honoured to be the beneficiary of this charity football match.

"This will go towards our continued efforts to improve access to education among Malaysian children. We hope Manchester City’s success story and fighting spirit will inspire the children benefitting from our CSR initiatives to reach their true potential," he added. -- Bernama

Source: MOLE