Jun.29 (GMM) Money, not the safety of night racing, is the key to whether formula one will visit Malaysia beyond the expiration of its contract in 2010.

Sepang officials have in their possession a proposal to extend the deal for five years, but they are weighing up the estimated $6 million in extra costs that would be needed to satisfy Bernie Ecclestone's demands for lighting up the circuit near Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia's sports deputy minister Liow Tiong Lai confirmed in parliament on Thursday: "The government is still mulling over the cost factor (and) that is why we have yet to sign the contract."