KUALA LUMPUR – Once again, Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has raised the alarm over pitch conditions at Bukit Jalil National Stadium, just four days before the highly anticipated Malaysia Cup final between Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and Terengganu.
Accompanied by photos of the pitch undergoing recovery works and showing noticeable brown patches, the JDT owner directed his concerns at Malaysian Stadium Corporation chairman, Datuk Hans Isaac.
The caption in his post sarcastically remarked, “Good standard for the final of Malaysia Cup. Looks like your formula is working, Hans Isaac.”
The pitch suffered damage following the Coldplay concert on November 22, with Stadium Corp assuring timely restoration ahead of the Malaysia Cup final.
Proactive measures include the replacement of new Zeon Zoysia grass from the Bukit Jalil nursery to cover damaged areas most likely caused by the concert’s sound system setup.
This incident marks another instance of Tunku Ismail expressing frustration over the condition of the stadium’s pitch.
Previously, after the October 13 football match between Malaysia and India, the pitch, sponsored by Tunku Ismail for an upgrade to Zeon Zoysia from cow grass, suffered severe damage with grass patches uprooted during the Pestabola Merdeka tournament.
Citing the need for more time for the roots to establish themselves, Tunku Ismail raises pertinent questions about the effectiveness of the renovation and maintenance efforts – casting a shadow over the Malaysia Cup final scheduled for December 8. – December 4, 2023