KUALA LUMPUR – The federal government has allocated RM276 million for the construction of seven sports facilities in Kelantan for the 2028 Malaysia Games (Sukma).
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said priority would be given to constructing a new stadium in Bukit Merbau, which will cost RM180 million under the Third Rolling Plan of the 12th Malaysian Plan.
“The other six projects are the constructions of the Bukit Merbau Sports Complex Indoor Arena costing RM25 million, hockey stadium (RM19 million), aquatic centre (RM20 million), squash courts (RM9 million), covered lawn bowls pitch (RM8 million) and shooting range (RM15 million).
“The stadium is unlikely to be completed in 2026 and that is one of the reasons why the Kelantan Sukma was pushed to 2028,” she said during the questions for oral answer session in the Dewan Negara today.
Yeoh said, as such, the 2024 Sukma will be held in Sarawak and the National Sports Council will host the 2026 edition.
The selection of Sarawak as host was decided at the Sukma Supreme Committee Meeting, which she chaired on March 16.
She also said that moving the Kelantan Sukma to 2028 would give the state government more time to prepare. – Bernama, March 28, 2023