MALAYSIAN Grand Prix organisers have ruled out holding a night race next year following the success of the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend, but they have pushed back the start time to 5pm.

The sport's governing body has been pushing for more night races in Asia to satisfy European television demands and earlier this year Malaysia said it was keen to go ahead with one in 2009.

Sepang International Circuit (SIC) chairman Mokhzani Mahathir said the concept was off for the time being, but the race had been pushed back two hours.

'It will still be daylight and about 7pm when the new race finishes and for fans in Europe and Britain, it would be about 10am. We are not going to lose out,' he told Malaysia's Star newspaper in Singapore on Sunday.

He blamed the cost of lighting for the decision, with officials previously saying the SIC would need to invest at least five million dollars to install them.

'The lighting costs quite a bit and this is an effort to keep the cost of F1 in Malaysia down. And Bernie (Ecclestone) has agreed,' he said, adding that the two hour time difference would make for a different experience.

'It will be a bit different. People do not have to wake up so early. And they will still be able to enjoy themselves after that.'

Under a new contract signed last year, in which it agreed to be prepared for night racing, Malaysia will continue to host races until 2015. It held its first Grand Prix in 1999.

On Friday, Ecclestone said he wanted to turn the Japan Grand Prix into a night race, following the example of Singapore.

Asked by BBC radio here if more floodlit races were planned, Ecclestone said: 'If we have more races in this part of the world, yes.

'We're going to try to get Japan to do it. I hope when people see Singapore they realise it wasn't a stupid idea.' -- AFP