New Straits Times

Looking forward to the big day

It will benefit athletes and sports developmen­t in nation, says Najib

- FERNANDO FONG KUALA LUMPUR kee.soon@nst.com.my Page 1 pic: Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium yesterday. PIC BY ASYRAF HAMZAH

THE refurbishe­d Bukit Jalil National Stadium, which will be unveiled on Thursday during Umno’s 71st anniversar­y celebratio­n, will benefit athletes.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who dropped by as preparatio­ns for the celebratio­n were being carried out, said it would be a catalyst for the developmen­t of sports.

The stadium, which seats 140,000, had been given a facelift.

In a tweet after the visit, Najib said: “Monitoring the preparatio­n at Bukit Jalil National Stadium this afternoon. The field looks impressive. Hopefully, it will benefit athletes and the nation’s sports developmen­t.”

He was accompanie­d by Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Umno executive secretary Datuk Seri Abdul Rauf Yusoh.

The stadium will be the main venue for the 29th SEA Games, with the theme of “Rise Together”.

It will be held from Aug 19 to 31 and its closing ceremony will be held in conjunctio­n with the 60th Merdeka Day, while the Asean Para Games will be held from Sept 17 to 23.

This will be the sixth time Malaysia is hosting the Sea Games.

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 ?? PIC BY ASYRAF HAMZAH ?? Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium yesterday. With him are Umno executive secretary Datuk Seri Abdul Rauf Yusoh (left) and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin (third from left).
PIC BY ASYRAF HAMZAH Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium yesterday. With him are Umno executive secretary Datuk Seri Abdul Rauf Yusoh (left) and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin (third from left).
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