How safe is SSMZA?

Tonight there will be a special prayer and a religious talk at Stadium Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin (SSMZA), Gong Badak, Kuala Nerus as a prelude to resuming football matches there next month. SSMZA is the biggest stadium in the East Coast.

Source: teganukita.my

A component of the sports complex which was used to host SUKMA 2008, part of its roof structure subsequently collapsed twice. The remaining roof has since been demolished.

Terengganu has three football teams competing in the Super, Premier and FAM Leagues respectively. It will be a big psychological boost if SSMZA can be used again soon in addition to Stadium Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah (SSINS) in Kuala Terengganu. 

Given the two earlier unfortunate incidents however, questions surrounding safety is uppermost on people's minds. Besides, there are talks that the upper terrace will not be used.

According to a local source who communicated with Bola Pantai Timur on the condition of anonymity, a JKR expert from Kuala Lumpur has confirmed that the existing stadium structure is safe and sound, based on a consultant's report. "... No reservation on the integrity of the stadium structures," the source says. The unidentified consultant had evaluated the whole stadium structure and proposed appropriate repairs and upgrading.

The decision not to allow the use of the stadium's upper terrace is to save the rehabilitation cost incurred. "The cost will increase if all the facilities at the stadium are rehabilitated simultaneously," the source adds. Even at the lower terrace, facilities which are not related to football are not repaired yet. These include bowling, squash and certain rooms.   

For the past six months the following have been prepared and rehabilitated: pitch, certain rooms, seats, lighting and related M & E works.