PERUMAHAN Kinrara Bhd (PKB) has demanded for the return of the land on which the Kinrara  Oval Ground sits. 

The developer said this was in line with an agreement it struck with the Malaysian Cricket Association 15 years ago.

“PKB would like to inform that the said land has always been earmarked for development. Pending its development, the said land was leased to Malaysian Cricket Association in 2004, for 15 years ending 31 October 2018. 

“Malaysian Cricket Association has, from the beginning, been made aware that the use of the land is only temporary and that they will need to eventually find their own permanent home for their operations,” PKB said in a statement.

The developer said the association had also also not paid the rent for a long time and that it run up a “sizeable” debt with PKB.

PKB said the association had been given more than enough time to move out.

The Kinrara ground is one of three cricket ovals in the country. One more is at the Selangor Turf Club and the other, in Klang.

Malaysian Cricket Association has asked to keep the lease for reasons of legacy and because it had invested a lot of money in the land.

Youth and Sports Deputy Minister Steven Sim has said that the association would be given an extension beyond October 31 to resolve the issue. 

The Bukit Bendera lawmaker had also said there might have been elements of corruption in the past dealings between the cricket association board and the developer. 

Former youth and sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin had also highlighted the plight of the Kinrara Oval on Twitter and tagged current minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman in appeal to expedite a resolution on the matter. 

PKB is a joint venture between I&P Group Sdn Bhd, Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera and Lembaga Tabung Haji, and is a company under the Permodalan Nasional Bhd group.

PKB said the National Sports Council was mediating talks with the cricket association, which it hoped would honour the 2004 agreement.

“PKB hopes that MCA will honour the terms in the leasing agreement and return the usage of the land to the rightful owner upon its expiry,” the developer said. – October 26, 2018.