KBS says it wants to repair Shah Alam Stadium

The Youth and Sports Ministry on Saturday expressed its willingness to help the Selangor state government to repair the damaged roof of the Shah Alam Stadium which is estimated to cost RM60,000.

Its minister, Khairy Jamaluddin said he had instructed the ministry's secretary-general, Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali to visit the Shah Alam Stadium as soon as possible.

"We will help because I know there is a financial constraint at the state government level and this stadium will also be used as a venue for the SEA Games.

"The question of the Selangor state government being from this opposition party does not arise because it is a professional matter.

When we talk about government policies and so on, we have to put politics aside, we will help the Selangor state government," he said.

He was speaking to reporters at a press conference after officiating the Jerantut UMNO Division Wanita, Youth, and Puteri conference here on Saturday.

He was commenting on a newspaper report on Friday about the Selangor government's request to KBS to help repair the damaged roof at the stadium estimated to cost between RM50,000 and RM60,000.

Khairy said KBS had rejected the state government's application prior to this to repair the stadium because the damage then was not particularly serious.

"There was no major problem then, but when there was damage to the facility when the Malaysian football team was playing against Myanmar recently, then we felt there was a need for us to repair the damage.

Part of the roof in the spectators' seating area at the stadium was blown away during a match between the national under 22 (U-22) squad and the Myanmar's U-22 team, with debris landing in the field recently.

The situation sparked concern as the stadium is the venue for the men's soccer events for Group A comprising Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Laos and Brunei in the SEA Games.-- BERNAMA