KUANTAN, Nov 25 (Bernama) -- Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah graced the Darul Makmur Stadium’s 50th anniversary golden jubilee celebrations here today.
His Majesty was accompanied by Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah and Pahang Regent, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah.
The Pahang state administration, led by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail was in attendance.
The King expressed his happiness that many Pahang youth were able to excel in sports and become champions, even at international level, thanks to the state’s development programmes that involve the stadium.
"I’m glad to be together with everyone here to commemorate all the great memories from half a century and this stadium has seen so many youth becoming sports champions.
"I hope there will be more new champions born from Pahang in the next 50 years, Allah SWT willing," the Agong sand as he launched the Darul Makmur Stadium Corporation’s new logo.
The golden jubilee celebrations began with an opening performance by 420 secondary school students from around Kuantan, including an 'Ale Ale Tok Gajahku' performance, which is a favourite among Pahang football fans.
A montage of photos of the Malaysian football team playing Thailand during the stadium’s opening in 1973 followed, along with a five-decade journey of the stadium, along with a fireworks display and performances by famous artists.
State Communications and Multimedia, Youth, Sports and Non-governmental Organisations (NGO) Committee chairman Fadzli Mohamad Kamal said in his speech that the stadium was synonymous with the Pahang royal institution, with Sultan Sir Abu Bakar Ri'ayatuddin Al-Muadzam Shah being instrumental in the establishment and the name of the stadium in 1965, and its significant expansion under the rule of Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah from 1974 to 2019.
He also noted that a high point for the stadium coincided with Al-Sultan Abdullah being chosen to helm the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) from 2014 to 2017, and his being vice-president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) from 2002 to 2015, as well as FIFA executive committee member from 2015 to 2019.
"The people of Pahang themselves know that the stadium has hosted many prestigious championships, including the Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in 1996 and 2012, the Under-20 FIFA World Cup in 1997 and several editions of Pesta Bola Merdeka.
"Pahang citizens have cheered their home team the Tok Gajah in this very stadium, till the state became the first winners of the Super League in 2004, the 2006 and 2014 FA Cup champions, and winning the Malaysia Cup for two consecutive years in 2013 and 2014,” he added.
Fadzli said that a special book entitled “Memoir Lima Dekad:Stadium Darul Makmur” has been published by the stadium’s management with the assistance of Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) in conjunction with the golden jubilee celebrations.
-- BERNAMA
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