SHAH ALAM: The Shah Alam Sports Complex will be demolished to make way for an entirely new state-of-the-art facility.
No date has been announced for the demolition of both the Shah Alam Stadium and Malawati Indoor Stadium and rebuilding of the over 200 acre complex.
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In a press briefing on the development of the complex on Friday (Sept 30), Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB) group managing director Imran Salim said the existing structures would be torn down to resolve the main issue of flash floods by raising the new moveable pitch.
"This is also to resolve the traffic issues as well as providing more usable space in the form of green recreational areas," he said, during a detailed presentation on the proposal for the project.
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The new pitch will sit within a bowl-design stadium with a fixed roof and on a raised platform with its own irrigation system, which will negate the use of moats and allow spectators to be closer to the field.
The proposed plans do not include a athletics track. However, open spaces around the complex could accommodate a track in the future.
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The stadium can be converted for indoor or outdoor use with a movable pitch and will be able to accommodate between 35,000 and 45,000 spectators.
Imran said that the multi-use stadium will be football-focused and aims to obtain FIFA certification to be an international tournament stadium.
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Outside the stadium, the proposed plans include wide walkways, open green areas, covered access to different modes of transportation, retail space as well as other sports and multi-use facilities to draw visitors and enable the venue to be self-sustaining.
The final specification of the complex will depend on discussions with the Selangor government.
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Imran said that the process of finalising the details and properly assessing the cost will take time in addition to the approvals from all relevant bodies, and the entire process could take three to four years.
"The stadium will be run on a revenue/cost model instead of relying on government budget as the goal is commercialisation to ensure sustainability," added Imran.
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Menteri Besar Incorporated chief executive officer Norita Mohd Sidek said that the complex will play a significant role in the economic development of the state.
"The new complex has been identified as having a high economic impact in one of the zone's under the First Selangor Plan."
In July, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said that the project cost would be a public-private partnership with development costs capped at RM787mil and borne by the developer through a land swap deal.
Later this year, a public display on the sports complex development will be held to give the public an understanding on the issues surrounding the proposed development plan.
Members of the public can share their views on the project by emailing kssa.maklumbalas@gmail.com. The public will also have an opportunity to share their feedback during the exhibition.
