Cpt1 - Introduction

8/3/2019 Cpt1 - Introduction

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IRWAN MOHAMMAD ALIMaster of Science in Facilities Management

A Study on Safety Awareness in Outdoor Stadium Facilities: Chapter 1: Introduction

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CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE RESEARCH

The need for facilities and safety management has been regarded as the most important

aspects of large public facilities, especially during emergency situations such as

demonstration, fire, terrorist attacks or overcrowding. In Malaysia, sport event are the most

crowded period throughout the whole season. No doubt that the Malaysian Football League

for example is one of the terrific events with a large number and various types of spectator

crowds in outdoor stadium facilities.

This study will provide essential information to assist the organization to better

manage sport facilities. It covers planning and operational principles that encourage the use

of facilities without overlook to the spectators safety aspect. There are many factors

influencing the management of sport facilities as well as who own the facility, and whether it

is a multi-user facility. The management of the particular facilities and events may have to be

reinforced by external agencies such as police, ambulance service and fire service. In the

aftermath of disaster, other agencies and professionals such as medical team, social

workers, lawyers, and insurers also involved.

Therefore, spectator crowd safety is a major responsibility in heavily used public

facilities (Sime J.D. 1999). Moreover, referring to Berlonghi A. E. (1995) noticed that crowd

management includes all measures taken in the normal process of facilitating the movement

and enjoyment of people either for being entertained, educated or to celebrate something.

The competence and effective action in the management of spectators crowd should be


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implemented during operational planning to avoid serious losses of life, health, property and

money.

Based on research studied by the Social Issues Research Centre (2009) indicate that

the game of football has been associated with the violence. They also stated that the

behaviour of football hooliganism originated in the early 1960s have been linked with riots.

The major research and theoretical perspectives on football hooliganism derive mainly from

a British work conducted since the late 1960s with critically discussed on principal

sociological, psychological and anthropological approaches.

1.2 RESEARCH STATEMENT

Over the last decade Malaysian Government has seen pattern of demand to host sporting

events, since they can potentially boost the economic, social, and political agendas

positively. For this reason, the government has channelled more funds to build good sport

facilities for the public activities. Managing sport facilities can be a difficult and time

consuming task which is covered planning and operational principles. With the uncertainty of

spectator behaviour, it is impossible to ensure a risk-free environment in sport venues. Many

researcher state that it is important to know a matter of how one prepares, responds, and

recovers to mitigate the consequences of emergencies (Schwab et al., 2007).

The New Straits Times (2009) reported that in 1996, the Sarawak Football

Association banned two fans from the State Stadium in Kuching, Sarawak (Stadium Negeri)

after they let off air bombs in a home match. Their names were also published in the local

newspapers. However, the ban was stopped as the Sarawak FA felt that by banning fans

from the stadium, they thought it would affect gate collections in the long run.

Then in April 2009, Malaysian sports community was shocked by the ugly incident at

the Sultan Mohammad IV Stadium in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. Local football hooliganism

shows its ugly head in the Kelantan FA versus Negri Sembilan FA at the Malaysian FA Cup


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match where the home fans set ablaze a police vehicle and damaged several other cars.

The match was incident-free until the home team goal keeper attacked Negris defender

after the final whistle. This action triggered a small section of the 20,000-odd fans to turn

unruly (New Straits Times, 2009).

Recently in October 2010, the Malay Mail (2010) reported that the first leg of the

Malaysia Cup quarterfinal match between Selangor FA and Kelantan FA in Shah Alam

Stadium was marred by spectator scuffles at the stands. It is also learned that one of the

Kelantan FA supporter died due to breathing complications and another one Selangor FA

supporter suffered head and facial injuries. The spectators from both teams were lighting

firecrackers even before kick-off.

Consequently, it got worse when the game started as the fans were throwing bottles,

firecrackers and even went to the extent of ripping off the stadium seats. The Federal

Reserve Unit (FRU) and Peoples Volunteer Corps (RELA) were tasked to control the unruly

spectators. Despite the tight security, the spectators managed to throw firecrackers which

accidentally hit a group of medics on duty (The Malay Mail, 2010).

Referring to the current scenario, some researchers have reported that there is a lack

of security personnel training at sport facilities to guard against violence or riot (Bakeret al.,

2007; Cunningham, 2007). Therefore, to study common sport facilities vulnerabilities,

protective facility security measures, and spectator safety awareness is important in order to

assist sport facilities managers in their operational planning, maintenance and preparation

for any emergency incidents.

In fact, at the moments there is no such research and theoretical carry out critically in

Malaysia. With limit research led in these countries, approach to the problems of sport

facilities, spectator violence and safety also lacked and restricted. This study will investigate

current practice, spectators safety awareness and risk associated in sport event.


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1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study is to promote an effective outdoor stadium facilities operations and

safety provision which is customer oriented. In order to achieve the research aims, the

following research objectives are established:

1) To identify the current safety implementation of facilities management and

common vulnerabilities in outdoor stadium facilities;

2) To investigate the management and spectators safety awareness on risk

associate in outdoor stadium facilities; and

3) To recommend the best procedure and approach in safety awareness of

outdoor stadium facilities.

1.4 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research methodology is a part of systematic process to get information and data related to

study. Generally, the methodology of this research can be divided into two categories, which

is primary and secondary data. The description for these categories is explained as follows:

1) Primary data

a) Observation observe the specific facilities, surrounding and

elements during field survey to each case studies.

b) Questionnaire get an opinion and feedback from the respondent

about the topic discussed.


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c) Interview interview the management staff and related personnel

about the topic discussed.

d) Photographic Record capture an image as evidence and

supporting data during field survey.

2) Secondary Data

a) Journals; and

b) Books.

The mixed method technique which combines both the quantitative and qualitative

research approaches will be implemented. There will be in the forms of questionnaires and

semi structured interview. For sampling, questionnaires will be distributed through field

survey to respective respondents which are the spectators in outdoor stadium facilities.

Further, the semi structured interview will be carried out to facility managers, local football

associations and related agencies.

1.5 SCOPE AND LIMITATION

This research is focused on the safety awareness in outdoor stadium facilities within Klang

Valley areas. Among the scope and limitations of this study are as follows:

1) The study undertakes to study the safety awareness between the

management and spectators of outdoor stadium facilities with reference to the

Malaysian football league in Klang Valley.


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2) The study is based from the selected matches in Malaysian football league

namely:

a) Charity Cup (Piala Sumbangsih) 1 match;

b) FA Cup (Piala FA) 3 matches; and

c) Malaysia Cup (Piala Malaysia) 3 matches.

3) The capacity between 20,000 to 100,200 and year built between 1994 to 1999

of the outdoor stadium facilities is selected as shown below:

Table 1.1: Scope and limitation of the studies (Sources: World Stadiums, 2011).

ITEM NAME CAPACITY YEAR BUILT

1 Shah Alam Stadium 69, 372 1994

2 Petaling Jaya Stadium 25, 000 1996

3 National Stadium 100 200 1998

4 Selayang Stadium 20, 000 1999

1.6 SIGNIFICANT OF RESEARCH

The study will enable to:

1) Understand the relationship of facilities management practiced and safety

awareness in outdoor stadium facilities;


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2) Make sure that outdoor stadium facilities in Malaysia are complying with the

safety standard guidelines and regulations;

3) Provide a clear strategic direction and facilities management roles in sport

events with provision to safety awareness in outdoor stadium facilities;

4) Promote safety awareness among facility managers and spectator crowds in

outdoor stadium facilities;

5) Provide more research on safety awareness and facilities management in

outdoor stadium.

1.7 SUMMARY OF CHAPTERS

For better understanding of the research, this paper will be divided into six (6) main topics as

summaries below:

a) Chapter 1

This chapter deals with important issues to be considered in this study. This chapter

reviews the basis circumstances of the current Malaysian football scenario in outdoor

stadium facilities and related cases. It begins with an introduction to the background of

the research; research statement; explain the aims and objectives; research

methodology; scope and limitations of the study; and expected outcome from this

research.


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b) Chapter 2

In this chapter, the definitions and terms which are related to this research will be

discussed. Specifically, this chapter is a discussion on literature in order to understand

the safety and awareness in outdoor stadium facilities.

c) Chapter 3

In connection with the previous chapters, this part will explain the research methodology.

This particular chapter consists of a discussion of how this research is carried out

according to the literature review, data collection obtained by distributing questionnaires

to spectators and interviewing the related facilities management team in outdoor stadium

facilities.

d) Chapter 4

In order to carry out f ield surveys, this particular chapter will determine information on the

case studies background.

e) Chapter 5

Chapter 5 examines the data obtained by analyzing the questionnaires and semi

structured interviews with selected respondents. Then, the collected data will be

analyzed to obtain results from the research.

f) Chapter 6

Finally, this last chapter consist of the research conclusion and come out with

appropriate recommendations to improve the current implementation. This part also will

give some idea and thought for future research.

Documents

Cpt1 - Introduction