KUANTAN: After more than five decades, the cow grass pitch at the Darul Makmur Stadium here will be replaced with Bermuda grass.
State Communications and Multimedia, Youth, Sports and Non-governmental Organisations Committee chairman Fadzli Mohamad Kamal said the state government had agreed to set aside RM1.2 million to upgrade the grass.
"The Youth and Sports Ministry will provide a RM500,000 grant, while the rest will be funded by the state government to upgrade the drainage systems and plant the grass for the first time," he said during the winding-up session at the state assembly sitting at Wisma Sri Pahang here today.
Replying to a question from Datuk Seri Shafik Fauzan Sharif (Barisan Nasional-Inderapura) on the difference between the current cow and Bermuda grasses, Fadzli said the Malaysian football league would now be played during the monsoon season in December and January so the pitch has to be durable.
"If we use cow grass, the field becomes muddy when it rains, so we might be forced to postpone the football matches. The Bermuda grass can withstand heavy use, allowing the matches to go on as scheduled," he said.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh was previously reported as saying her ministry had offered a grant to upgrade the drainage system and replant new grass at selected stadiums in the country.
She said each state would receive RM500,000, with RM300,000 for drainage system upgrades and RM200,000 for grass planting.
Darul Makmur Stadium, which was opened in 1973, is the home ground for the Sri Pahang football team, which competes in the Malaysian football league.
