IPOH: Sports venues and facilities in Perak will be ready to receive over 8,000 athletes and officials when the state hosts the 20th Malaysia Games (Sukma) next year.
State Youth, Sports, Communications and Multimedia committee chairman Datuk Shahrul Zaman Yahya said the federal government had approved an allocation of RM152mil to Perak last year, in order to help prepare for the game.
“We are closely monitoring the preparations for Sukma, especially the construction and upgrading works of sports facilities which will be used in the Games.
“So far, we are satisfied with progress at the venues. Everything is going smoothly and according to the plan," he said after opening Perak Youth Council meeting at the state Youth and Sports Department here today.
Shahrul said the upgrading and renovation works are currently ongoing especially at the Swimming Complex, Perak Stadium and Indera Mulia Stadium.
"Swimming Complex and Indera Mulia Stadium were temporarily closed, while the Perak Stadium will only be closed upon completion of the Super League and Liga Perdana tournaments.
"However, this doesn't mean that the renovation works at Perak Stadium is on hold. In fact, the renovation work at the stadium's changing room has been completed," he said.
Shahrul added that next year's Sukma will offer something different compared to the previous years, because Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Khadir had requested that all the tournaments be conducted in all districts in the state.
"He come out with the idea when chairing the state-level Sukma committee meeting recently. He said he wanted all Perakians to experience Sukma.
"At least one sport will be held in one district. This is also a challenge to us considering the logistics but we believe we can make it happen," he said.
For example, Shahrul said the mountain biking and weightlifting can be held in Taiping and Bagan Datuk, respectively.