Some time last year, someone thought it would be a good idea to block off major roads in the heart of Kuala Lumpur so that the KL City Grand Prix could be held.

All it did was cause misery for the public. It resulted in horrific traffic congestions in a city where public transportation leaves much to be desired.

Can the many who live and work in the city say it was worth it? This is the question that is bound to arise again following news that the two shareholders of the organising company are embroiled in a dispute.

Last week, FMT ran a report based on court papers which alleged that Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) forked out RM30 million for the race despite assurances from the organisers that sponsors would foot the entire bill.

KL Mayor Mohd Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz declined to comment on the allegations, saying only that DBKL’s commitment was limited to infrastructure and logistics works and that it had yet to receive any proposal for a race this year.

The racing website speedcafe.com has quoted a ,“well-placed” source as saying that there’ll be another race this year. It also says the Federal Government has taken control of it amidst the shareholder dispute.

So is there going to be a race or not? The more important question is whether such a race should go on. In these trying economic times, many would agree that taxpayer money should not be used for something so unimportant. Even if the DBKL’s commitment is limited to infrastructure and logistics, it will still cost money to the taxpayer.

Kuala Lumpur already has so much to offer. It can survive without this street race as a crowd puller.

The Federal Territories Ministry and DBKL must understand the inconvenience such races have on businesses and residents in the city. They should instead focus their resources on improving the core issues affecting the city rather than create more problems for the public.