The long-running controversy surrounding the replacement of the National Stadium athletics track has entered a new phase after a police report was lodged over the project’s procurement process.
Former Malaysia Stadium Corporation chief executive officer Iliyas Jamil filed the report on June 15 while he was still officially holding the position, although he had been suspended from duty.
In the report, Iliyas alleged irregularities in the tender process and urged police to investigate the award of the contract, claiming the decision was made after his suspension and questioning the selection of the successful bidder.
He also informed police that he had previously submitted information relating to the matter to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), including witness statements and a statutory declaration.
Police have yet to confirm whether a formal investigation has been opened.
The complaint adds another chapter to one of the most closely scrutinised procurement exercises in Malaysian sport.
Earlier reports revealed that the tender board departed from the recommendations of the technical evaluation committee by awarding the contract for two new athletics tracks to the second-ranked bidder.
The project, valued at more than RM15 million, involves replacing the running tracks at the National Stadium and the National Sports Council’s mini stadium in preparation for the 2027 SEA Games.
According to previous reports, the evaluation committee awarded the highest score to a bid proposing the Italian-made Mondo track system, while a competing proposal featuring China’s JRace system finished more than 13 points behind in the assessment.
Despite the evaluation results, the tender board awarded the contract to the JRace proposal.
The decision sparked widespread debate within Malaysia’s athletics community, with athletes, coaches and sports officials questioning why the top-ranked technical bid was not selected.
Although JRace holds World Athletics Class 1 certification, making it eligible for international competitions, both the National Stadium and the National Sports Council’s mini stadium currently use Mondo tracks installed ahead of the 2017 SEA Games. Mondo surfaces have also been used at the Olympic Games, World Athletics Championships and numerous other major international events.
Critics have maintained that the issue is not whether the JRace surface meets international standards, but why the technical evaluation did not ultimately determine the contract award.
Before lodging the police report, Iliyas had also raised his concerns with the MACC.
When contacted, Malaysia Stadium Corporation chairman Dr Helmy Haja Mydin said the matter would be left to the MACC, noting that the anti-graft agency is already investigating the issue.
The police report was lodged before Iliyas was charged in a separate case.
On June 18, he appeared before the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on seven charges of soliciting and receiving RM1.45 million in bribes linked to an RM8.73 million tender for upgrading the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil.
Prosecutors allege that he solicited RM1 million before later receiving RM450,000 from a contractor as an inducement to appoint a particular construction company.
Iliyas has pleaded not guilty to all seven charges, which are unrelated to the National Stadium track replacement project.
