KUALA LUMPUR – The newly upgraded Bukit Jalil Stadium has once again become the subject of criticism from Malaysian football fans as they were frustrated with the condition of the pitch during the final of the Pestabola Merdeka tournament between Malaysia and Tajikistan today.
Several posts were shared by people on X, formerly Twitter, as they continued to make fun of and criticise the newly installed Zeon Zoysia pitch, describing it as a national disgrace.
“This pitch is an absolute disgrace. The colour of the pitch is not aligned, and the number of holes in the pitch is terrifying to see.
“Even by observing the quality of the pitch on a normal television, it looks terrible. Just imagine watching the condition of the pitch on a 4K television; it will look even more horrifying,” one person commented.
“Oh my god, looking at the condition of our national pitch, I can proudly say that my school’s pitch was better than this.
“This pitch is an embarrassment to our country, and it’s really saddening to witness this,” remarked another.
Several ground staff were seen patching the pitch with grass before kick-off at the centre and the corners of the pitch.
Earlier today, Malaysia Stadium Corp chairman, Datuk Hans Isaac, said that the national stadium will be closed after tonight’s Merdeka Cup final.
The stadium body further reiterated that the Zeon Zoysia grass will be ready in time for the World Cup qualifier against Kyrgyzstan next month, despite Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim’s recommendation to give the pitch three months to be fully ready.
Last year, Tunku Ismail agreed to sponsor the renovation cost to replace the cow grass pitch at Bukit Jalil with Zeon Zoysia as a gift to the Harimau Malaya after the pitch was observed to be in poor condition during the 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers.
The current Zeon Zoysia grass at the stadium is also used at the JDT-owned Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri.
It is understood that the estimated cost of renovating the pitch was RM1.5 million, and it takes RM300,000 to maintain its quality.
Malaysia Stadium Corp has spent RM4.7 million since June of last year as the stadium underwent extensive refurbishment. This included work on the replacement of the field drainage system, the stadium’s electrical system, the protection fence, locker rooms and restroom facilities. – October 17, 2023