ISKANDAR PUTERI, 12 JULY 2020: After almost three years of preparation, the infrastructure and facilities for SUKMA XX Johor 2020 are almost complete and will soon be ready to be tested by the athletes who will compete in Johor next year.
Johor, who last hosted the biennial Games in 1992, has built nine new venues including Mount Austin Athletics and Rugby Stadium, Arena Emas, Taman Impian Emas for petanque, lawn bowls, squash and archery and the state’s latest landmark, the Velodrom Johor in Iskandar Puteri.
Johor Menteri Besar, YAB Datuk Ir. Hasni Mohamad had only praise for all the people involved in ensuring the construction and development of venues that will be used for next year’s SUKMA XX Johor 2020 went on smoothly.
“Compliments to all parties, especially government and private agencies who worked so hard to ensure all these facilities will be completed on schedule,” said Hasni during a visit to the venues today.
“Based on what we saw today, I am very satisfied with the progress and upgrading of all the venues and facilities. The projects are all on schedule and some venues can even be tested by Johor athletes very soon.”
A total of RM467.9 million has been spent on building world-class venues as well as upgrading existing facilities. A total of RM325.9 million was spent by the state government while a further RM142 million was granted by the federal government.
“I would also like to thank the federal government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports for allocating RM142 million to help us build new facilities and upgrade existing ones to prepare for a successfully 20th SUKMA,” added Hasni.
The Menteri Besar added that Johor is now ready to host a world-class sporting event in line with its vision of becoming a sports powerhouse and hopes the latest facilities will serve to motivate the Johor contingent to become champions on home soil.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor Sdn Bhd (KPRJ) Dato’ Haji Mohd Noorazam Dato’ Haji Osman was also very proud that the venues entrusted to the agencies under him were completed on schedule.
“We are responsible for building SUKMA venues including the Olahraga Stadium, Rugby and Target Field in Mount Austin, Velodrom Johor and BMX Track in Iskandar Puteri, three football fields in Iskandar Puteri City Council Square, sailing facilities in Desaru, Kota Tinggi and Arena Emas for petanque, lawn bowls, squash and archery at Taman Impian Emas.
“The world-class facilities will surely be Johor’s latest attraction. For your information, the Olahraga Stadium in Mount Austin can house up to 5,000 people and meets international standards,” added a proud Noorazam.
Construction of the stadium in Mount Austin cost RM180.6 million. Other venues that were newly built include Iskandar Puteri City Council Football Field, Iskandar Puteri Youth Hub, Larkin Arena Indoor Stadium and Johor Shooting Centre, also located in Mount Austin.
Existing venues that were given a facelift include Taman Daya Hockey Stadium, Larkin Arena Aquatic Centre, Pasir Gudang Municipal Council Stadium, Taman Johor Jaya Multipurpose Hall for wushu, Johor Cricket Council Academy at Mutiara Rini and Sireh Park, Iskandar Puteri for MTB cycling and the Tengku Mahkota Hall, Muar for weightlifting.
SUKMA XX Johor 2020 will be held in three districts – Johor Bahru, Muar and Kota Tinggi. As many as 28 events will be held in Johor Bahru with Muar hosting three (canoeing, weightlifting and silambam) and Kota Tinggi hosting the remaining two – cruise and bike riding.
