KUALA LUMPUR: Earlier, it was the National Stadium's bad pitch that became a big issue. Now it's the running track.
The track at Bukit Jalil is in such a bad condition that it is not fit to host major athletics events anymore.
There is a depression on the track's surface due to the hosting of concerts over the years.
It was once a beautiful track which saw Ato Boldon of Trinidad and Tobago run an electrifying 9.88 seconds on it to win the men's 100m gold at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games.
This is the venue that hosted two Sea Games athletics competitions in 2001 and 2017, and many other major domestic meets like the Malaysian Open and Malaysian Games.
And this track is supposed to host the 2027 KL Sea Games.
Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) Technical Director John Ballard said the National Stadium's track is damaged, and there is a sinkhole in lane one as a result of too many concerts.
"The track cannot be used to host athletics events and it needs to be replaced with a new one.
"I was told there is a budget for the track to be changed next year. For now, the track can only be used for training."
He said the Bukit Jalil track also needs to be certified by World Athletics (WA) for competitions.
"Without getting certificated approval, no competitions will be sanctioned by WA."
A WA sanction for a track is crucial, and Ballard cited the example of
110m hurdler Fiross Faizal. His winning time of 14.15s at last week's Johor Open beat the World Junior Under-20 Championships qualifying mark of 14.20 but the Johor Open was not sanctioned by WA. So, Fiross couldn't go to the world meet.
"We need to apply to WA for tracks in Malaysia to be certified. WA will then send an engineer to inspect the track," said Ballard.
"Each track, which is sanctioned by WA, is only for five years. After five years, we need to reapply to WA for inspection again."
Ballard said he will submit a report to Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh on the National Stadium's damaged track which cannot be used for competitions.
Two National Stadium Board officials, when asked by Timesport on Wednesday about the track, said they could not comment on the matter.
