DYAM Tunku Ismail, the Acting Sultan of Johor and owner of Johor Darul Ta’zim, has voiced his frustration over the deteriorating state of football pitches in Malaysia, following the repeated postponement of the Liga Super Malaysia 2024/25 match between Perak FC and JDT.
The fixture, which was originally scheduled for August, faced another postponement last night due to heavy rainfall and the poor condition of the pitch at Stadium Ipoh, Perak.
Expressing his disappointment, Tunku Ismail pointed out that despite ongoing efforts to elevate Malaysian football, the infrastructure, particularly the quality of pitches, remains substandard. He highlighted that 90% of football fields in Malaysia are still in poor condition, drawing a stark contrast with neighboring countries that have significantly improved their football infrastructure.
“It’s 2024. Malaysia is busy trying to develop football but 90% of the pitches in the country are still in bad condition,” Tunku Ismail remarked. “It is a shame when compared to neighboring countries. They have improved their football fields and infrastructure, while we continue to talk about change without taking action.”
Tunku Ismail also criticized Malaysian clubs for failing to take advantage of an offer made by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS), which included free pitch upgrades. According to him, many clubs declined the offer because they were unwilling to bear the annual maintenance costs of around RM200,000, leading to a situation where pitches are neglected, affecting both local and international matches.
“Getting a free field isn’t acceptable because clubs refuse to pay the maintenance cost of RM200,000 per year. Millions can be spent on player transfers and stadium seats, but pitch maintenance is ignored,” Tunku Ismail added.
“It’s embarrassing. The monsoon season is approaching. How many more games will be delayed? It’s wasteful and shameful.”
The ongoing issue of poor pitch conditions threatens to disrupt the Malaysia Super League schedule, with matches frequently delayed or postponed, especially during the rainy season. This hampers the performance of players, increases the risk of injuries, and tarnishes the league’s reputation on both domestic and international stages.
For Tunku Ismail, the issue reflects a broader problem of mismanagement within Malaysian football, where talks of improvement are not met with the necessary action. The postponement of the JDT vs. Perak match due to weather-related issues in August, and now again in October, underscores the urgency of addressing pitch conditions to avoid further disruptions.
With the monsoon season looming, the call for better maintenance and infrastructural upgrades becomes even more pressing, as more games could face similar delays, potentially derailing the football calendar.
The JDT vs. Perak match remains postponed for now, with no confirmed date for rescheduling, leaving fans and players in limbo. However, Tunku Ismail’s pointed critique has certainly reignited the conversation on the need for substantial improvements in Malaysian football infrastructure.
Credit Photo : Ashok Kumar/SNE-Photo
