PLAYERS and fans could end up drenched by rain at the ATP Malaysian Open, which starts on Saturday, as the leaking roof at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil has not been fixed.
The problem is not new as it has been highlighted a number of times in the last few years.
The current rainy season in Kuala Lumpur does not help the situation and fans should bring raincoats or umbrellas into the stadium.
The roof, right above the media and VIP sections, must be leaking badly as the authorities have covered it with plastic tarps to stop rain water into the stadium.
The contractor, hired by the Stadium Board to repair the leak, has put up a tent over the VIP section as protection in-case the plastic bag gives way under the weight of accumulated rain water.
But the sitting area for the paying fans and the centre court are not protected.
The stadium, built for the 1998 Commonwealth Games, has been the venue of several world class tournaments apart from the ATP Malaysian Open.
It also hosts the Proton Malaysian Open Badminton Championships annually.
An official from IMG, the organiser of the Malaysian Open, said the stadium's roof should be replaced by a new one.
"The leak is getting from bad to worse. It was bearable at first in 2009.
"The centre court's surface is expensive and if exposed to rain water, its wood would be damaged," he said.
Tournament director Nick Freyer said the stadium management has hired a contractor to fix the leak.
"But until it is fixed next year, we will have to deal with any eventualities as best we can.
"The weather does not discriminate and all events have the same issue to deal with. The show will go on," said Freyer.
The leak, however, should have been repaired by the Stadium Board and the concerned parties immediately when the problem first surfaced a few years ago.
This will reflect badly on the stadium management and others as the stadium is hosting an international event.
