KUALA LUMPUR — Local badminton fans attending the recently concluded Malaysia Open 1000 series have voiced their dissatisfaction with the poor condition of washroom facilities at Axiata Arena.
Checks by Scoop found that the men’s washroom on the first floor, located near the Subway and Ramly Burger outlets, was in disrepair. Several cubicles were closed for maintenance, leaving fans waiting in long queues to use the few that remained operational.
Speaking to Scoop, 68-year-old Wong Lee Yau shared his frustration, saying it was his first time encountering such issues since he began attending events at Axiata Arena three years ago. Wong had to climb to the second floor for washroom access throughout the tournament.
“I have never experienced anything like this before. I’m already old, and it’s tiring for me to walk all the way upstairs to use the washroom. I wonder why such a simple matter cannot be properly addressed by the management of the stadium and why senior citizens like me have to move around.
“It’s even more frustrating when I have to wait in a long queue, as only two out of the five cubicles are working. I think for the next edition of the Malaysia Open, I will purchase the premium tickets instead of the standard tickets and use the washroom upstairs so that it will be easier for me.
“I hope that next year there will be no issues with the washroom upstairs as well,” said Wong when met at the venue.
Karim Abu Bakar, a four-time attendee of the Malaysia Open, expressed disappointment with the maintenance of basic amenities at a world-class venue.
“I love the competition; for me, it’s the best event, and we Malaysians are lucky to witness it. But the basic facilities must be well maintained by the stadium management.
“In fact, the stadium we have is one of the best in the world, and it’s a shame that the washrooms are not being properly maintained for people like us to use.
“Not only is there a lack of cubicles available, but a few days ago, there was also no water in the washroom, and we had to wait nearly an hour for the water service to resume. I hope that from next year onwards, these kinds of issues will no longer persist,” Karim said.
Wee Leong Soo warned that ongoing washroom problems could damage Malaysia’s reputation among international badminton fans.
“The tournament has been entertaining, but when it comes to the facilities and the condition of the stadium as a whole, this has by far been the worst experience for me in the last five years.
“The queues at the washroom and the lack of cubicles have been very frustrating, forcing me to walk around the venue to find a washroom. The other day, I also saw several foreigners frustrated by not being able to use the washrooms.
“If the stadium management allows this to continue in future editions, it will tarnish the nation’s image in the eyes of the world in the long run, much like the recent roof leakage issue. We Malaysians shouldn’t ruin the image of our own country,” said Wee.
Scoop is seeking comments from Malaysian Stadium Corporation (PSM) CEO Iliyas Jamil on the matter.
Meanwhile, the roof leakage at Axiata Arena became another flashpoint of frustration for fans on the opening day of the Malaysia Open. Heavy rain caused water to drip onto Courts 2 and 3, disrupting matches, including the women’s doubles clash between Malaysia’s Go Pei Kee and Teoh Mei Xing and China’s Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian, as well as the men’s singles match between Canada’s Brian Yang and India’s H.S. Prannoy.
The Malaysian Stadium Corporation later issued an apology, stating that the roof had not been renovated since the 1998 Commonwealth Games. The corporation assured fans that repairs, undertaken with the assistance of the Public Works Department, would be completed before the tournament ended on January 12.
Despite the assurances, the leak caused another delay on the second day, briefly halting the men’s singles match between France’s Christo Popov and Japan’s Kodai Naraoka on Court 2.
Local fans have expressed growing anger over these disruptions, with some threatening to boycott future events if the problems persist. The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) acknowledged the concerns, explaining that Axiata Arena remains the venue of choice due to a lack of suitable alternatives in Kuala Lumpur. – January 14, 2025