JOHOR BAHRU, 12 July – The coronavirus (Covid-19) might have thrown a spanner in the works but Johor – hosting only its second Sukma, (Malaysia Games), will offer world-class facilities for the 20th edition of the games.
Postponed to next year from its earlier dates (July 11-19 2020), the biennial games are now scheduled to be held from 6-14 March 2021.On Sunday (July 12), Johor Chief Minister, Datuk Ir. Hasni Mohamad visited some of the venues in Johor Bahru – the main venue for Sukma – a week after Youth and Sports Minister, Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican’s made a similar visit.
“Based on what I saw, I am very satisfied with the progress made at all the venues. The facilities are world-class – both the new and those that are being upgraded and refurbished,” said Hasni when met at the new athletics stadium in Mount Austin today.
The cost is of building new facilities and upgrading the existing, is closing to half billion ringgit to provide the best for the games which Johor last hosted in 1992.
The Johor State Government’s budget towards the cost for the 20th edition is RM325.9 million while the Federal Government through the Youth and Sports Ministry has given RM142 million.
The budget will be well spent as Johor has never wavered to host a world-class event.In fact, Johor Bahru was the venue for the final of the 2009 Junior World Cup Hockey Finals jointly hosted with Singapore.
For the record, the final was played in Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Bahru.
Taman Daya Hockey Stadium was never a white elephant. The Junior World Cup Finals also saw the birth of the six-nation Sultan of Johor Cup Under-Invitational Tournament which was inaugurated in 2011.
It is the only Under-21 tournament that is held annually. The Junior World Cup Finals are held every four years.
Unfortunately, this year’s Sultan of Johor Cup, which is the 10th edition and scheduled to be held in October has been postponed to next year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
With all the facilities at their disposal, Johor has a vision of its own – to be a sports powerhouse in the country.
Hasni thanked the Federal Government for extending financial allocation for Sukma Johor 2020.
Meanwhile, another happy personality linked to Sukma Johor 2020 is Datuk Noorazam Osman who is the Chief Executive Officer of Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor (KPRJ). KPRJ handled the building of new facilities and upgrading the existing ones.
”It gives me pride that all agencies under KPRJ delivered,” said Noorazam.
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