Bukit Jalil to be upgraded to Sports City

The Bukit Jalil Sports Complex, home to the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games in 1998, is set to undergo a drastic makeover that will turn the site into a full-fledged Sports City by 2020. 

The RM1.6 billion renewal project, to be undertaken by Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB) will be carried out in two phases, the first of which will be to facilitate the upgrading of Bukit Jalil’s existing infrastructure to accommodate the 2017 SEA Games, which Malaysia is set to host. 

“Phase One which is slated to begin in January and run through June 2017 involves functional and aesthetic upgrades to the National Stadium, the National Hockey Stadium, and the National Aquatic Centre as part of the preparations for the SEA Games, and will cost RM499 million,” said MRCB executive director Imran Salim yesterday, as reported by Bernama.

The initial upgrades will include improvements to the fire prevention systems, changing rooms, lifts and escalators, restrooms, piping, and public announcement systems. 

The real changes to Bukit Jalil are set to occur after the SEA Games end. From Janjhuary 2018 to Decemeber 2020, the complex’s Phase Two reconstruction will see Bukit Jalil geting a new convention centre, a sports rehabilitation centre, a youth park, museum, sports library and dormitories for visiting athletes. 

Even a shopping mall for the area is in the works, which MRCB hopes will turn the Bukit Jalil Sports City into a prime destination for not only sports professionals, but also casual visitors, a la Singapore’s Sports Hub and the London Olympic Stadium. 

Phase Two is expected to cost RM1.1 billion in total. 

MRCB and its subsidiary Rukun Juang Sdn Bhd (RJSB) were choen by the Federal Government to undertake the project through an open tender process via the the Public-Private Cooperation Unit (UKAS). 

To design the entire project, the contractors have engaged Populous, the renowned design firm responsible for the rejuvenation of New York City’s Yankee Stadium, London’s Olympic Stadium, and the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.