Kedah to form body to run sports venues

ALOR STAR: Kedah Stadiums and Sports Complexes Corporation will be set up to manage, maintain and market the sports venues in the state.  

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said it was best to integrate all sports venues under a single body for better management and co-ordination. 

“The corporation will have to generate revenue by organising events and holding activities all year round,” he said.  

The proposed corporation must team up with Kedah Communications Events and the state Tourism Council, he said. 

“We leave it to the corporation to appoint managers for the venues. The managers will be under the corporation’s payroll,” he told a press conference at the Media Centre at Sukma Secretariat here yesterday. 

Mahdzir said the Darul Aman Stadium, Muadzam Shah Sports Complex, Sultan Abdul Halim Sports Complex were currently under separate managements. 

“We want all the sports facilities, including our world-class Aquatic Centre in Gunung Keriang, to be managed by a corporation.  

“It will be more cost-effective. None of the sports venues, most of which were built for Sukma, will be left idle,” he said, adding that the two-week Sukma ran smoothly without any major hitches. 

“I am also happy to note that all the venues were packed with spectators,” he said.  

Although Kedah did not meet its 48-gold target, Mahdzir said he was satisfied with the 30-gold haul.  

The 11th Sukma ended yesterday.