`Open House' at Bukit Jalil

21/08/1998


IN keeping with the true Malaysian spirit, Sukom Ninety Eight Berhad will
hold an "open house" at the National Sports Complex at Bukit Jalil on
Sunday.
The public are invited to see for themselves the state-of-art facilities
that will be used for the Games.
"This is a rare opportunity for the public to visit all five venues at
the Bukit Jalil Complex and familiarise themselves with the routes," said
Sukom executive chairman Tan Sri Hashim Ali yesterday.
"After this the facilities will be open only to those who have tickets."
The five venues are National Stadium, the Aquatic Stadium, the Squash
Centre, the Hockey Stadium and the indoor Putra Stadium.
They will be open to the public until 2.0.
The Bukit Jalil Complex is a sight to behold now that almost 99 per cent
of work has been completed.
Hundreds of trees and flowering plants have been planted and the area
looks like a well manicured lake gardens.
"There will be guided tours and the various venue managers will explain
to the public on the facilities available at each stadium.
"For those who have booked, and those who plan to buy tickets for the
Games, this will be a very good opportunity to know their way around the
complex. The police as well as volunteers will be there to help with any
enquires."
Cars will be allowed to be driven to the parking lots surrounding the
complex.
Meanwhile, Hashim has written to the Australian Commonwealth Games
Association (ACGA) to seek clarification over a remark made by their
general manager, Perry Crosswhite.
Among others, Crosswhite had commented: "I think if we judge it in
respect of Western standards we are going to have to be very careful about
that because we're used to running sports event of this magnitude and they
are not."
Hashim sent the fax to ACGA secretary Arthur Turnstall yesterday: "I
will wait for a response before making a stand because controversies don't
serve any purpose at this stage.
"These are friendly games, so let's keep with the spirit."
Hashim has one request to the foreign media and athletes.
"Come to the Games with an open mind, don't come with negative feelings
nurtured by malicious reports."
(END)