LETTERS: I recently learnt that the Shah Alam Stadium and the sports complex surrounding it, which is located near where I live, will be redeveloped.
This was announced by Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
The stadium holds many memories for me. I have been to countless football matches and concerts there since I was a kid in the 1990s.
I am sad to learn about the stadium's state of disrepair. Once the pride of Selangor residents, especially those in Shah Alam, it is now a pale shadow of its past glory.
In fact, the structure is now rendered unsafe due to poor upkeep.
Many roof tiles have fallen off, and many more are hanging precariously. Several floods, including in 2021, have damaged the field, locker rooms and the stadium's wiring system.
Much as I hope that a magic wand can fix the stadium, repair and refurbishment are no fairy tale.
The state government has appointed a developer to look into whether to repair and renovate the stadium, or tear it down and build a new one.
Selangor taxpayers need to ask what's the best option for them. Is it worth it to repair and refurbish the stadium just for sentimental reasons?
Or should the state build a new one that comes with new technology?
After all, whichever way the state chooses, the development is fully funded by the developer by way of a public-private partnership.
Much as I want my kids and their kids to visit the stadium, the reality is that times have changed.
In the past, we did not learn about computers in schools and we spent our afternoons on the football field.
These days, kids don't have the time as they learn coding in class and many go for tuition after school.
Putting them through something just because we had gone through it is counterproductive.
Besides, if the stadium is torn down and replaced with a new one, the developer can incorporate features and new technologies, like smart security and energy-saving systems.
In the 1990s, the Shah Alam population was much smaller and the LRT was not available in Malaysia yet.
Today, Shah Alam is a bustling metropolitan and LRT3 will have a station near the stadium and the rail service is expected to be operational by 2024.
In other words, let's be realistic about plans for the stadium and its surrounding areas.
We should not only hold on to memories but we should also consider creating new ones that are in keeping with the times.
HIZIL ABDUL RAHMAN
Shah Alam, Selangor
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times