ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Youth and Sports Ministry and Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ibrahim is offering a one-off RM500,000 grant to each state to upgrade football pitches used for Malaysian Football League (MFL) matches.
Its minister Hannah Yeoh said that the offer to states also includes the Federal Territories.
"RM300,000 is for carry out upgrades to drainage systems and the remaining RM200,000 is to plant whatever grass they want – except for cow grass," she said in a press conference at a hotel in Medini on Tuesday (January 9).
Earlier, Yeoh attended a meeting organised by MFL, which was also attended by Tunku Ismail, who is also Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) football club owner.
The meeting was held as part of MFL's preparation for the upcoming football season scheduled to start in May.
She also said that last year, the ministry offered a similar grant for football stadiums to plant Zeon Zoysia grass, which was not taken as states did not have the right knowledge to maintain it.
"We have extended the offer to all state sports executive councillors and they have to discuss it with their respective mentri besar or chief minister," she said.
Meanwhile, MFL chairman Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan said that during the meeting, Tunku Ismail offered financial assistance of RM300,000 to each club to maintain the new pitch for one year.
"This is the first time all state sports executive councillors have met and we hope to see a synergistic partnership between all relevant bodies.
"All state sports executive councillors are very excited with the offer and hopefully we can see much better football pitches in the new season," he said.
