KUANTAN: The Darul Makmur Stadium here will become the first stadium in the country to be carpeted with the vibrant green Bermuda Tifgrand grass replacing the existing cow grass pitch.
Pahang Communications and Multimedia, Youth, Sports and Non-governmental Organisations Committee chairman Fadzli Mohamad Kamal said the re-turfing works has entered the final phase and the stadium will be ready by March next year.
"The grass is a new breed from Japan and the first used in the sports industry in Malaysia. The Bermuda Tifgrand breed is tough, creeps along the ground forming a dense turf and absorbs water efficiently which will prevent puddles or the field becoming muddy.
"The Tifgrand breed has a deep root system and it is expected to fully mature by March next year. The grass here was planted about two days ago and requires a lot of water for the next 10 days," he said after inspecting the Darul Makmur Stadium here today.
He was accompanied by Darul Makmur Stadium Corporation (PSDM) manager Izad Zainal Muhammad Safian.
Meanwhile, Fadzli said RM1.6 million was set aside to upgrade the stadium including the drainage systems and replacing the grass for the first time after more than five decades.
He said RM1.1 million was allocated by the state government while the Youth and Sports Ministry provided a RM500,000 grant.
"The maintenance cost for the Bermuda Tifgrand grass is estimated around RM200,000 annually," he said.
During the state assembly sitting in May this year, Fadzli said after more than five decades, the cow grass pitch at the stadium will be replaced with Bermuda grass which can withstand heavy use especially during the monsoon season.
Darul Makmur Stadium, which was opened in 1973, is the home ground for the Sri Pahang football team, which competes in the Malaysian football league.