KUALA LUMPUR – The Selangor government plans for the new Shah Alam Stadium to be an integrated part of a larger ecosystem for both sports and recreation facilities.
Speaking at the media roundtable today, Menteri Besar Selangor Incorporated (MBI) Chief Executive Norita Mohd Sidek said the new Shah Alam Sports Complex will not only include a state-of-the-art stadium, but also feature recreational facilities focused on the people of Selangor.
“The state government wants to make the sports complex a sustainable, people-friendly, and robust project in terms of economic value,” she said.
She said Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB) which has been offered to build the facility had suggested converting part of the sports complex into a recreational community park, while other parts will be developed into modern sports facilities for football, rugby, hockey, and indoor sports.
Norita said that the state government is confident with the complex’s new features as it was made based on the current assessment of safety, importance, and long-term benefits for Selangorians.
She added the state government is also looking to develop the area into a sports hub and a space for public gatherings for the community.
The design is also meant to maximise the usage of the 188-acre stadium complex which is currently underutilised, as well as address long-standing infrastructural issues.
MRCB group managing director Imran Salim said the new 35,000 to 45,000-capacity stadium will be another landmark in Shah Alam as it will maintain the iconic silhouette design that has become synonymous with the state.
“It will be a bowl-seated stadium as we want to make the environment more intimate.
We will make sure that we get all the needed certification for the stadium. The stadium will be FIFA certified so that it can host International FIFA-sanctioned matches.
“The redevelopment will also focus on addressing current infrastructure matters, taking into account flooding and traffic issues within the stadium,” he said.
To facilitate this, the current structure will need to be brought down for the new facility to be built.
Imran added that the building will be a Selangor-themed stadium as it is the permanent home for the Selangor Football Club, also known as the Red Giants.
Imran added that the facility will also become an integrated transport hub with a light rail transit (LRT) station and bus terminal for ease of access to the new sports complex and its surrounding areas.
He said the proposed development will also feature leisure tracks, cycling paths, parking, extreme sports, hotel, sports goods outlet, bazaar, multi-purpose hall, indoor event space, and even a sports museum.
Imran added that the cost of redeveloping the Shah Alam Sports Complex is yet to be decided as the proposed plan needs to go through a few more processes before it is decided.
“We hope for the proposed plan to be approved by this year as it would take close to four years to complete the whole project. For now, I can say the project will be expected to be completed in two phases.
The stadium is designed for community utilisation where it becomes an integral component of the neighbourhood as well as providing entrepreneurial opportunities.
Norita said it costs RM5 to 6 million a year to maintain the stadium alone, hence the new complex will help MBI in income generation from economic activities.
Previously, the Selangor government decided that the Shah Alam Stadium needed a new lease of life and handed a letter of intent (LoI) to MRCB for a detailed proposal on redevelopment plans.
At the same time, Imran said that even though this initial proposal meets the state government’s aspirations, the state government and MRCB are still finalising details of the project to ensure the interests of the people are prioritised.
Meanwhile, Norita said that the next step is to allow the people of Selangor to share thoughts about the proposed plan for the Shah Alam Sports Complex via email so that the state government can assure that public sentiment is taken into consideration during the planning stages of the project.
The new design will be displayed at various locations including the stadium venue, the State Government building, and the Shah Alam City Council, as well as respective social media platforms.
The public can send their feedback to [email protected]. – The Vibes, September 30, 2022.
