Johor, hosts of the 2020 Sukma (National Games) wants the biennial games to be the best organized in its history.
Even before any new records are set at the next Sukma the southern state will achieve a first in the country with the building of a new 5,000 capacity track and field athletics stadium.
The stadium is located in Mount Austin on the outskirts of Johor Bahru city and is already 65 percent completed. A new rugby field is also being built in Mount Austin.
“It will be the first athletics stadium in the country and we are very proud of this,” said Mohd Noorazam Dato Osman, Chief Executive Officer of Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor (KPRJ) Sdn Bhd.
To kick-start Sukma 2020 the Johor State Government recently unveiled Sports Johor logo and Sports Johor Sdn Bhd – a wholly-owned subsidiary of the state-linked Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor (KPRJ) and is tasked with organizing sporting events in the state.
“It will be the only track and field stadium in the country. This itself is an achievement for Johor Sukma as we expect to set a new benchmark as the best organized Sukma apart from achieving our targets which will be announced later,” said Noorazam.
The Johor State Government has approved RM180 million for the construction of the stadium when Mentri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian tabled the state budget at the state assembly in Kota Iskandar recently.
According to Noorazam, who is also the president of the Johor Rugby Union, the stadium is expected to be completed in the second or third quarter of next year.
Work is also in progress to build new facilities for lawn bowls, petanque, archery, and squash in Taman Impian Emas also in Johor Bahru city area.
Johor last hosted the Sukma in 1992. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
