THERE is still a stalemate on the issue of the Kinrara Oval cricket grounds in Puchong after the deadline given to the Malaysian Cricket Association (MCA) to vacate the premise passed on October 31.

MCA vice-president Nordin Abdullah said that business was still going on as usual as they are allowed to use the grounds and the area has not been cordoned off.

“We still have access to the properties. We are currently waiting for the Youth and Sports Ministry to moderate a meeting with all relevant parties.

“We have not received a date from the ministry. We hope that it will be soon,” he told The Malaysian Insight.  

Developer Kinrara Housing Bhd (PKB) is demanding the return of the land in keeping with a lease agreement it entered into with MCA 15 years ago.

MCA’s groundskeepers were served a notice a month ago to vacate the premises by October 31, when the contract with PKB expires.

The developer has reiterated that MCA had always known that the site was earmarked for development.

The developer also said that the association also owes a “sizeable sum” in unpaid rent to PKB.

Nordin said that the MCA has settled the undisputed amount owed to PKB.

“If the lease gets extended we will continue to pay what is due. We are not expecting to get it for free.”

Nordin said that they also found out that PKB is trying to rezone two parcel of land, Kinrara Oval and the Kinrara golf course, from sports and recreation to commercial.

“There is a massive oversupply of property in the country, but now they want to rip down the national stadium and use it for commercial development.”

The land is owned by PKB, a subsidiary of I&P Group Sdn Bhd. I&P Group is owned by developer SP Setia Bhd. Permodalan Nasional Bhd has a 55.93% controlling stake in SP Setia.

Nordin said that they will need about five years to relocate if they have to vacate the land.

“There will be serious repercussions if we are asked to vacate. Our rankings will drop and we won’t get to host as many international tournaments here.”

The grounds are home to the national men and women’s cricket teams, and hosted the 29th Sea Games last year.

The men’s team is placed 27th globally, and the women’s team 31st.

The site is on prime land, located near the newly built Bandar Kinrara 5 light rail transit station, and a cluster of new shops and up-and-coming condominiums.

The Subang Jaya municipal council said earlier this month that it cannot intervene as it has no jurisdiction over the land, which belongs to the developer. – November 6, 2018.