Terengganu has become the first state in the country to have a synthetic football pitch.
The pioneer pitch costing RM1.1 million has been successfully laid in Kampung Tok Jiring.
Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the funding for the pitch came from the allocation provided to his ministry under the 10th Malaysia Plan (RMK-10)
"The technology involved serves as a new model for sports infrastructure development in the country. The size of the pitch meets FIFA's minimum standards and it can be used for international matches.
"This is a pioneer project and if it proves to be successful, we hope one day all football pitches in Malaysia will synthetic," he told reporters after making a visit to the synthetic pitch today.
Under the RMK-10, the ministry was allocated RM50 million to build 30 synthetic football picthes, where each state would get at least two depending on its population with each costing between RM1.1 million and RM1.7 milion.
Malaysia is still behind its neighbours where synthetic pitches are concerned. Singapore is already using synthetic pitches for international matches.
Although the cost is more than double compared to grass pitches, they are more cost effective in the long run as they can last from eight to 10 years.
The project in Tok Jiring in the Kuala Nerus parliamentary constituency will serve as the model for the other pitches as the initiative is part of efforts to raise the standard of football in the country.
The pioneer pitch costing RM1.1 million has been successfully laid in Kampung Tok Jiring.
Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the funding for the pitch came from the allocation provided to his ministry under the 10th Malaysia Plan (RMK-10)
"The technology involved serves as a new model for sports infrastructure development in the country. The size of the pitch meets FIFA's minimum standards and it can be used for international matches.
"This is a pioneer project and if it proves to be successful, we hope one day all football pitches in Malaysia will synthetic," he told reporters after making a visit to the synthetic pitch today.
Under the RMK-10, the ministry was allocated RM50 million to build 30 synthetic football picthes, where each state would get at least two depending on its population with each costing between RM1.1 million and RM1.7 milion.
Malaysia is still behind its neighbours where synthetic pitches are concerned. Singapore is already using synthetic pitches for international matches.
Although the cost is more than double compared to grass pitches, they are more cost effective in the long run as they can last from eight to 10 years.
The project in Tok Jiring in the Kuala Nerus parliamentary constituency will serve as the model for the other pitches as the initiative is part of efforts to raise the standard of football in the country.
