The Perak Government intends to establish a stadium corporation to regulate and maintain sports facilities and infrastructures after hosting the Malaysia Games (Sukma) next year.

State youth, sports and human resources executive committee chairman Datuk Shahrul Zaman Yahya said the corporation, to be known as the Perak Stadium Corporation would be set up to prevent the infrastructures from becoming 'white elephant' once the games were over.

He said the facilities and infrastructures could then even be utilised for other events, besides sports.

"With the Perak stadium corporation, we hope the sports infrastructures which are currently more 'cost centered' can become more 'profit centered'.

"For example, the federal government changed the Bukit Jalil Sports Complex into 'KL Sports City', where commercial elements are included to ensure the infrastructure is not only used during sporting events," he noted.

Shahrul Zaman was replying to a supplementary question from Mohamad Ziad Mohamed Zainal Abidin (BN-Manjoi) at the State Assembly sitting here today.

Meanwhile, commenting on the preparation of infrastructures ahead of Sukma 2018, he said the state government had initiated the process of identifying suitable venues throughout Perak.

He said the public works department was examining the needs of venues to be repaired, upgraded, maintained or newly constructed.

"Among infrastructures currently being built are the swimming complex which has now reached 23 per cent completion and expected to be fully constructed by February next year, while the shooting range complex in Chepor is expected to be completed in December this year.

"Meanwhile, the badminton and squash centres at the Indera Mulia Stadium are currently being upgraded where works had begun earlier this year," added Shahrul Zaman.

In winding-up the debate on the speech by Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, he said Perak aimed to clinch 60 gold medals at the next Sukma.

"It may look impossible but there is a chance we can do it. We're going to focus on certain sports to achieve the objective, and Perak has its strength in athletics," he said. -- Bernama