High quality cow grass used for National Stadium pitch, says stadium board

Fans are seen at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil. The poor quality of the stadium’s pitch has spurred the Malaysian Stadium Corporation (PSM) to make improvements. – File pic, May 21, 2015.

The National Stadium in Bukit Jalil is ready to host Saturday’s 2015 FA Cup final between Kelantan and Lions XII from Singapore, said the Malaysian Stadium Corporation (PSM).

PSM's new chief executive officer Azman Fahmi Osman said he was confident that the new turf on the pitch, comprising locally bred, high-grade cow grass in place of the Bermuda grass used previously, would live up to expectations.

Besides being more durable, the grass was also appropriate to the stadium's structure and weather conditions in the country, he said.

"The grass is in the best condition and most suitable for the final action this time. The grass used previously has been transferred to the Mokhtar Dahari National Football Academy in Gambang, Kuantan," he told reporters at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil today.

He said PSM had also used a special “grow light” lighting system imported from Holland to enable the protected grass field to receive proper lighting around the clock.

Azman Fahmi, who was appointed to the post on May 5, said PSM had also sought the advice of Universiti Putra Malaysia's (UPM) dean of the Agriculture Faculty, Professor Dr Abdul Shukor Juraimi, who is a grass specialist, to ensure that the grass in the stadium was in the best condition.

He added that PSM would only allow the pitch to be used for sporting activities such as football and athletics championships, while its use for other activities would require special approval from PSM to maintain the quality of the field.

"As far as possible, we do not want to switch to another new grass because it incurs high costs. What's important is regular care. Even though it is durable, we still have to take care of it.

"This grass requires the same care as its predecessor. For example, this Saturday there is a football match. The next day, we will close (the pitch) for full maintenance until June 11, for it to be used for the 2018 World Cup qualifying round match," said Azman Fahmi, who declined to disclose the total cost of the new grass.

Touching on the use of artificial grass as proposed by some parties, he said the grass was not suitable for use in the national stadium as it did not meet weather conditions in the country.

The national stadium's pitch has often been a topic of debate among local football fans due to its poor quality.

In 2013, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin ordered the national stadium in Bukit Jalil to be closed following complaints that the state of its pitch was unsuitable, forcing a friendly match between Barcelona FC and Malaysia to be relocated to the Shah Alam Stadium at the last minute. – Bernama