KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — After more than six months of upgrading and maintenance, the Dataran Merdeka field will reopen today at 10am.
On October 8 last year, the Hotline Roving Team reported the dilapidated state of the national landmark, with unkempt grass and broken tiles on the walkways.
Horses from City Hall’s horse unit were also seen grazing on the field, and people were furious over the poor infrastructure and condition of the field.
City Hall initially said it would take no action until 2015, because it was expecting a number of events for Visit Malaysia Year 2014.
However, City Hall closed the site for renovation a few months later.
Mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib said upgrading work had been completed and the area would be open to the public starting today.
“It will open at 10am and I hope that it will become an attraction once again for the public,” he said after visiting the field yesterday.
“We’ve appointed a contractor to monitor and maintain the field with grass-cutting every week and weeding every month.”
He said additional trash bins would be put in place as soon as the plastic barricades were removed.
Ahmad Phesal said the project cost RM4 million, including upgrading the drainage systems and the planting of longer lasting grass.
“We’ve allocated RM200,000 annually for the maintenance of the field.
“Sprinklers will be turned on at 4am every day and we will constantly monitor the field,” he said.
The field was initially closed from January 22 to April 21 to upgrade its drainage system and grass.
There was a delay in its reopening because City Hall wanted to ensure the field was in a sustainable and good condition.
Ahmad Phesal said the public was invited to watch the Fifa World Cup 2014 semifinal match between Holland and Argentina which will be broadcast on the field’s big screen at 4am tomorrow.
He even invited the public to break fast on the field but reminded them to keep the area clean.
