By Debra Chong
The Malaysian Insider
Oct 24, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 — Putrajaya risked public safety when it took four years to approve funds to repair the damaged roof at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, the Auditor-General said in his report released today.
The report highlighted that the Merdeka Stadium Corporation (MSC), a federal statutory body responsible for the management of all national sports complexes, had applied to repair damage to the Bukit Jalil Stadium a total of four times since 2006.
The government finally approved RM30 million to repair the damaged stadium in December last year, the report added.
“The Auditor is of the view the delay in completing the roof repairs at Bukit Jalil National Stadium… was because the government did not approve the allocation applied for since 2006.
“This could jeopardise the comfort of users who would be exposed to the rain and endanger their safety if the roof collapsed especially for international events,” the report said.
The report said the 90,000-capacity stadium had a 10-year warranty for the German-made membrane roof cover, which expired in 2008, but noted MSC could not get a replacement roof because it was damaged by fireworks.
It noted too the stadium, which has hosted 2,100 events between 2008 and 2010, require other immediate repairs and pointed out rusty and loose cable screws holding up the roof.
The MSC had applied to the government twice last year to change its fireworks-damaged roof: the first time on February 8, for a budget of RM40 million; and again on September 20, for RM35 million under the 9th Malaysia Plan (9MP).
The government only granted it RM30 million in December 2010, under the 9MP.
However, the MSC only passed on the repair job to the Public Works Department — through the Youth and Sports Ministry — in April this year, citing lack of technical expertise, the Auditor-General’s Report said.
It urged the government to carry out immediate repairs to avoid endangering lives further.
This is not the first time a stadium has come under public scrutiny.
In June 2009, the Terengganu state stadium’s roof collapsed, damaging several cars, shortly over a year after it was officially opened by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.