Malaysia, Bahrain discuss F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix preparations

Malaysia will ensure the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang race circuit takes place in a safe, smooth and welcoming environment for participants, officials and visitors, says home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

He said about 700 security and traffic management personnel will be deployed throughout the event.

This matter was among the key issues discussed during Saifuddin’s bilateral meeting with Bahrain’s interior minister General Shaikh Rashid Abdulla Al Khalifa in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 15th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Bernama reported.

The Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix will take place at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) from Oct 2 to 4, 2026.

Saifuddin, in a Facebook post, said Malaysia was honoured to welcome Bahrain and the international motorsports community to Sepang.

“The staging of this prestigious event is not merely about motorsports but also serves as a bridge to strengthen the cordial relations and ties between the people of Malaysia and Bahrain.”

Saifuddin said a dedicated immigration lane at the airport would also be provided for team crews and accredited personnel, while visa arrangements would be facilitated for foreign nationals wishing to attend the event.

Saifuddin said Malaysia and Bahrain also discussed ways to enhance cooperation in tackling terrorism and extremism, intelligence sharing, drug enforcement and detection, as well as border management and security to combat transnational threats.

Earlier, at the UN Congress, Saifuddin said Malaysia must move beyond a reactive approach and strengthen early detection and prevention measures to address an increasingly complex criminal landscape involving radicalisation, human trafficking, organised crime and cyber-enabled crime.

He said since crime had become increasingly driven by artificial intelligence, national defence also also needed to be strengthened by harnessing the technology.

“However, the principle must be clear: AI can assist humans in making decisions, but it cannot replace human judgement.

“The rule of law remains the foundation of all preventive and enforcement efforts, supported by capable institutions, integrity in the public service, accountability and public confidence in the administration of justice,” he said.

Saifuddin said no country could tackle borderless cybercrime on its own.

“For this reason, Malaysia continues to strengthen international cooperation, including through the United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime, which it signed on Oct 25, 2025, and reaffirms its commitment to the convention’s objectives.”

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