PUTRAJAYA – Sarawak is the only state to have accepted the offer from Youth and Sports Ministry to replace one of their state-owned football stadiums with a different variety of grass.
However, minister Hannah Yeoh said state authorities have not decided which stadium will be replanted with zeon zoysia grass because they wished to see the suitability of the condition at the stadium.
“The ministry will cover the costs of the new grass, but there are many other conditions that the state government needs to fulfil first, of which one is to upgrade the drainage system,” she said when met after chairing the state youth and sports exco coordination meeting at Menara KBS here today.
The Federal Territories and two states – Terengganu and Pahang – rejected the offer, while the rest requested more time to determine if the new grass is suitable to be planted in their respective stadiums.
“Some states have requested more time because they wish to gather more information if zeon zoysia is suitable to be installed in their states.
“So, they will see how the grass is being managed at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium after the replanting works are complete in September or October this year,” Yeoh added.
The ministry previously offered matching grant funds to all state youth and sports excos to upgrade the football stadium pitches with zeon zoysia, which is also being used at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Johor Baru. – The Vibes, June 12, 2023
