Probe urged on illegal sale of F1 Madani tickets

By the Editorial Team · Friday, October 2, 2026

Tickets sold under Malaysia’s affordable Madani scheme for the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang are being resold at up to six times their original price, raising concerns of unfair profiteering. Consumer advocates are urging the Domestic Trade Ministry to investigate the resale practice to ensure ordinary Malaysians retain access to the race after its return following a decade-long absence.

Tickets from the Malaysian government’s affordable Madani initiative for the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang are being resold at prices as high as six times their original cost, prompting calls for an investigation into the practice. The three-day event, held from October 2 to 4, marks the return of Formula 1 to Malaysia after a nearly decade-long absence since 2017.

The Madani tickets, priced at RM200 each, were made available exclusively to Malaysian citizens holding a valid MyKad to promote wider accessibility to the race. A total of 10,000 tickets allocated under this scheme sold out within days following their release in mid-August. However, secondary ticketing platforms now list some of these tickets for resale between RM800 and RM1,190, sparking consumer protection concerns.

Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, chairman of the Alliance for a Safe Community, criticized the exorbitant mark-ups, considering them unfair to Malaysians who had sought to purchase tickets through the official government channel but were unable to secure any. Lee also questioned how resellers were able to acquire large quantities of the limited tickets, suggesting they may have anticipated high demand and purchased tickets with the sole intent to resell them at inflated prices.

Such resale activity, Lee said, risks excluding ordinary Malaysians from attending the event and undermining the original objective of providing affordable access to the race. He called on the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry to launch an inquiry into the matter and assess whether any regulatory or enforcement measures could be undertaken to safeguard consumer interests.

The Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang is being hosted under an agreement with Bahrain, which is covering the hosting rights fee. Ticket revenue arrangements form part of the terms allowing the event to take place in Malaysia under the Bahrain Grand Prix name. The race is expected to draw significant local and international attention as it revives Malaysia’s presence on the Formula 1 calendar after a nearly decade-long hiatus.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.