Press Statement by Lim Guan Eng in Georgetown on Sunday, 7^th June 2009: 

Penang state government willing to abide by recommendations of Youth & Sports Ministry on stadium safety at next year's SUKMA Games in Melaka 

The Penang state government welcomes Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek's directive for an audit report from the Malacca government on the safety of the Melaka stadiums and sports complexes to be used for the 13th Malaysia Games (Sukma) next year although they had been in use since 2004. The Penang state government is willing to abide by recommendations of the Youth & Sports Ministry on stadium safety and provide facilities according to acceptable standards in deciding whether to send our sports athletes to Melaka.

Even though Penang wants our over 600 sports athletes and sports officials to particpate in the SUKMA Games in Melaka, the safety of our athletes are paramount. Fears have been raised following the collapse of the roof even though the RM270million Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Gong Badak, Kuala Terengganu which was only completed last year.

Such fears have heightened following poor monitoring and inferior quality by contractors especially in states that has a poor record of competency, accountability and transparency(CAT). Following the collapse of the Kuala Terengganu stadium, I had directed Penang State EXCO member of Youth and Sports Ong Kok Hooi to conduct checks with technical officials to ensure the safety of the Melaka stadium before sending our athletes.

Datuk Ahmad's immediate response is a good sign that he is aware of public concerns of safety ,standards and the need for CAT practices in governance. Accordingly, the Penang state government is willing to follow his Ministry's recommendations and hope that the audit recommendations by his Ministry can be completed quickly. In the meantime I urge all our 600 athletes to train hard in preparation for the SUKMA Games.

* Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary-General & Penang Chief Minister; Member of Parliament for Bagan