SHAH ALAM, 12 Oct: The upgrading of the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) Hockey Stadium is at 60 percent and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

The recent development saw the upgrading done at a pace of 10 percent faster than the schedule.

The MBPJ Engineering Department Director, Ismail Shafie, is clearly happy with this development and hopes that it can be opened and used earlier.

“Among the work that has been done is dismantling and removing bricks, cleaning the turf grass, moving the chain link, painting the fence and installing the pump and motor for the field drainage system.

“All this work is being done by the appointed contractor, Usaha Prakarsa (M) Sdn Bhd since June 16,” he said recently.

The estimated cost for repairs is worth RM2.9 million and is shared between the state government and MBPJ with the new turf grass being purchased from the Netherlands, which is expected to arrive this November.

The stadium was built in 1994, however it was no longer used for the past six years because of the damaged turf field.

The Bukit Gasing Assemblyman, R Rajiv, who was also present, was clearly happy with the developments of the stadium reparation and hopes that the public will use it when it is open and also encourages clubs and also hockey players to train and hold friendly matches.

Selangor Kini found that focus is being put into painting it in blue, red, white and yellow.

NS