KUALA LUMPUR – The Regent of Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has criticised the use of cow grass in Malaysian stadiums, particularly highlighting the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.
In an Instagram Story post earlier today, he shared a comparison between the waterlogged field at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium and the pristine pitch at Thailand’s Rajamangala Stadium following a downpour.
“It’s not just the national stadium. All stadiums in the country suffer from waterlogged fields, except for the Sultan Ismail Stadium in Johor,” he posted.
“Cow grass, which contains clay mixed with peat soil, makes it challenging for water to drain through the ground.
“We are the only country in Southeast Asia still using cow grass. Our facilities and infrastructure are bad.
“We seem to settle easily, deflect from facts, and always find excuses, which ultimately diminishes the standards of our league.”
Tunku Ismail emphasised that both Thailand and Indonesia have surpassed Malaysia in terms of infrastructure. He also warned that unless there’s a shift in mentality among stakeholders, other nations like Vietnam, the Philippines, and Cambodia will soon outpace Malaysia in football infrastructure.
He stressed the crucial role of infrastructure in maintaining high-quality standards in the league.
Tunku Ismail has been vocal in expressing his views on the condition of the pitch seeing that he had previously sponsored the RM1.5 million renovation of the pitch at the National Stadium.
However, despite these efforts, the pitch continues to deteriorate, especially after hosting major concerts like Coldplay in November and Ed Sheeran last month. – March 25, 2024