National Stadium To Be Closed From Tomorrow For Pitch Restoration

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The poor quality of the field became a hot topic during the ongoing 2023 Asian Cup Qualifiers. (Facebook pic)KUALA LUMPUR: The youth and sports ministry (KBS) does not want to further delay the restoration of the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil after the quality of the pitch became a hot topic during the ongoing 2023 Asian Cup Qualifiers.
Its minister, Ahmad Faizal Azumu, said the stadium would be closed from tomorrow so that restoration work could start immediately. The initial plan was to close the stadium at the end of March next year.
“KBS views the quality of the field as well as the National Stadium facilities seriously and we cannot continue to put the country’s dignity in jeopardy by delaying the appropriate actions.
“The quality of the pitch as well as facilities should be restored fast. The current condition needs quick action and the situation is very pressing and should not be delayed,” he said in a statement today.
Malaysia is hosting the Group E qualifying round of the 2023 Asian Cup at the National Stadium, which began on June 8 when Bahrain defeated Bangladesh 2-0, while Harimau Malaya trounced Turkmenistan 3-1.
Stagnated water pooled on the pitch after a downpour before the start of the match between Malaysia, which is ranked 154, against world No 89 Bahrain on Saturday. The condition of the pitch sparked dissatisfaction among several quarters.
It was even more embarrassing when workers were seen trying to manually scoop stagnant water from the field before the start of the match in full view of the spectators, tarnishing the country’s image at an international stage.
In March, the Tunku Mahkota of Johor (TMJ), Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who is also the owner of Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), said he would sponsor the cost of planting new grass at the National Stadium as a gift to the home ground of Harimau Malaya.
In a statement on Johor Southern Tigers Facebook page, he said the Zeon Zoysia grass to be planted was similar to the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium field owned by JDT in Iskandar Puteri, Johor. - FMT

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