KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Stadium Corporation (PSM) did not order the use of shovels and cardboard to remove stagnant rainwater from the football field in Bukit Jalil National Stadium before the AFC Asian Cup 2023 qualifier between Malaysia and Bahrain yesterday.
It chief executive officer Mohd Faidz Sanusi said the National Stadium has a system that drains water from the field.
"PSM definitely did not suggest removing the stagnant rainwater by using shovels and cardboard.
"When the match started, there was no more stagnant water," he said today.
Yesterday, the scene of a number of workers removing stagnant water from the field with shovels and cardboard went viral.
According to Faidz, it usually takes 15 minutes to drain out water from the field but if there is heavy and continuous rain, it will take 20 to 25 minutes for the water to flow out.
"At 7.30pm after the downpour yesterday. the pitch was covered with water but at 8pm, it had subsided, so they need not have used shovels and cardboard to remove the water.
"By doing this, the grass would be damaged," he added.
Meanwhile, PSM said in a statement it is committed to working with the Football Association of Malaysia and Asian Football Confederation to ensure the remaining matches of the are better conducted.
PSM said together with the Youth and Sports Ministry, it would start resurfacing the field in the first quarter of 2024 and carry out improvement works, after fulfilling other commitments for this year. Bernama
#KW: PSM, National Stadium field, stagnant water, shovels, cardboards, Mohd Faidz Sanusi, Asia Cup 2023, qualifying round