Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Ministry has announced a strategic shift in its focus, prioritizing upgrades to existing sports facilities over new construction. This decision aims to maximize the utilization of existing infrastructure and promote sustainability. The move reflects a commitment to enhancing the nation’s sporting culture and ensuring that current facilities meet contemporary standards, benefitting both athletes and the community.
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In a recent announcement, Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Ministry, under the leadership of Minister Hannah Yeoh, has disclosed its primary focus on refurbishing and upgrading existing sports facilities instead of embarking on new construction projects. The decision is aimed at optimizing available resources and aligning them with the specific needs of various areas, with the overarching goal of promoting a sporting culture and healthier lifestyles.
Responding to a request from Wangsa Maju MP Zahir Hasan to construct a new sporting complex in his parliamentary constituency, Minister Hannah Yeoh emphasized the ministry’s commitment to enhancing current sports facilities within its purview.
Wangsa Maju constituency already boasts a number of sports facilities, including five futsal courts, a sports complex, and a badminton center. Additionally, several community centers and multi-purpose halls managed by Kuala Lumpur City Hall offer badminton and futsal courts, such as Taman Ibu Kota Community Centre, Gombak Community Centre, Taman Melati Impian Multipurpose Hall, Section 1 Multipurpose Hall, Section 2, Section 4, Section 10, and Taman Bunga Raya Multipurpose Hall.
Minister Yeoh pointed out the significant financial burden associated with constructing new sports complexes, which can reach up to RM50 million for a stadium alone. Given the annual budget allocation of RM50 million for maintenance and upgrades, the ministry is currently prioritizing the enhancement of existing facilities to make the most of the available funds.
Furthermore, she stressed the importance of land ownership in the decision to embark on new construction projects.
Per the Malaysian Treasury Circular’s guidelines for federal budget proposals, acquiring land using federal government allocations necessitates its transfer and registration in the name of the federal land commissioner. This crucial criterion ensures that applications for construction projects will only be considered when land procurement and ownership are complete, thus averting issues like squatters, residents’ objections, and unsuitable geographical factors at the project site.
In summary, Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Ministry’s strategic approach prioritizes the improvement of existing sports facilities, taking into consideration budget constraints and land ownership prerequisites, in its mission to foster a culture of sports and healthier living.