IPOH: The state government has declared Monday, Oct 29, a public holiday if the Perak football team triumphs in the Malaysia Cup final tonight.
State Youth and Sports Development Committee chairman Howard Lee Chuan How said the decision was made following a discussion with Menteri Besar Ahmad Faisal Azumu, and with the consent of the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.
Lee said the move is in accordance with the Public Holidays Act 1951, which is also the basis on which Terengganu announced that Sunday, Oct 28, will be a public holiday in the state should its football team win.
“This is a major event in Perak football history, which warrants the state government announcing a holiday as a token of appreciation to the people, whose strong support for the home team has helped pave the way for their entry into the final of the Malaysia Cup,” he said in a statement today.
According to Lee, the state government said each Perak team player and official involved will be accorded rewards and incentives which include cash – but the full range of rewards will only be announced after the team clinches the prestigious trophy.
Lee also said that he hopes the holiday announcement will spur the Bos Gaurus players to fight tooth and nail in the match at the Shah Alam Stadium, Selangor, tonight.
“Let’s show our undivided support and sporting enthusiasm to ensure that Perak makes its mark in Malaysian football history when it faces Terengganu tonight,” he added.
The state government had earlier announced a bonus of RM15,000 for each Perak player after the team qualified for the final of the prestigious cup when it crushed Sabah with a 7-2 aggregate in the semi-finals.
The last time Perak won the Malaysia Cup was in 2000 after it defeated Negri Sembilan 2-0 at the same venue.
