CITY Hall (DBKL) must explain why it has yet to open the sports complex in Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Brickfields, said stakeholders.

The facility, built on the former Kelab Sukan Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur site, is completed. However, the ground is still out of bounds, and the date of the opening is still unknown.

Brickfields Rukun Tetangga chairman SKK Naidu urged the city authority to explain what is happening to the facility and why there has been a delay in the opening despite the completion.

“We brought up the matter in April, and DBKL told us that we need to wait until next year to start using the sports facilities.

“We are surprised. The facilities are ready, but why wait until next year? Maybe give it another three or four months, let the grass grow, and fix minor issues, and then open up.

“The people of Brickfields, including the schools, are waiting for the opening of the facility. Most schools in Brickfields have no field facilities,” Naidu told The Malaysian Insight.

Initially, the project was slated to be completed and open for use in August this year.

However, The Star reported that DBKL is expected to open the sports facility to the public by January 2025, after the end of the defect liability period, to ensure the facility is in good condition for public use.

Naidu said the facility lacked basic infrastructure, which he said could be why opening was delayed

“After the completion of the project now, we are surprised that the project only has a field, a futsal court, and basketball courts, but there is no basic infrastructure like toilets or changing rooms.

“Even if it starts raining suddenly, there is no shade. DBKL has spent a lot of money, but basic things like toilets and other infrastructure are missing,” he said.

He said DBKL did not hold any discussions with the stakeholders when plans to redevelop the sports facility were initiated.

Since there appears to be a lack of basic infrastructure in the sports facility, Naidu claimed that DBKL might have plans to use the toilets in Kompleks Tun Sambanthan, which is adjacent to the field.

That is not a viable option at all, he said.

Naidu said that the Brickfields Rukun Tetangga was among those who pushed for the redevelopment of the field after it was closed in 2017 and left abandoned for years.

In 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, then Kuala Lumpur mayor Mahadi Che Ngah was inundated with requests for more playing fields.

To meet the request, Mahadi promised to replace the field that was closed in 2017, and an announcement on the redevelopment of the field in Brickfields was made in 2021.

Naidu said that Mahadi, as the mayor then, had kept his word but he was baffled by the silence of the current mayor, Kamarulzaman Mat Salleh.

“When the project kicked off, the current mayor was the DBKL executive director.

“The former mayor told me to check on this project with his successor, but the current mayor is not approachable. He doesn’t reply to our letters, no response,” he said.

“There were claims from a close source that some parties wanted to sell the land that the field is sitting on.

“But the former mayor didn’t give way. So, there might be a hidden agenda behind this. We don’t know,” he added.

To expedite the matter, Naidu said that the stakeholders have asked for the assistance of the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories), Dr. Zaliha Mustafa.

“The minister said that she will come for a walkabout. When she comes down, we intend to show her the field and ask her what is happening,” he said.

“So, we are waiting for the walkabout with the minister,” he added.

Minimal fee

DBKL had previously said that the sports facility would be managed by its Culture, Arts, Tourism, and Sports Department.

Naidu also called for the sports facility to be placed directly under DBKL and not under that department.

“The reason is because we want the facilities for free for the residents here.

“If it goes under the Culture, Arts, Tourism, and Sports Department, then they would be charging again.

“Even if it’s not for free, they can charge a minimum fee because we understand that the facilities need to be maintained, but we hope they don’t charge exorbitantly,” he said.

Meanwhile, local resident Manivannan Letchumanan urged DBKL to come clean on the reason for the delay.

He also questioned the quality of the planning department’s work, noting the facility’s lack of toilets and other basic infrastructure.

“What happened to the sports facility’s planning, the drawing that was submitted to the architect, and others? Were they submitted for approval?

“Didn’t they detect the missing toilets at the initial stages? That would have been the first thing they would have discussed because previously, there was an existing building which had changing rooms, stores, toilets, and others,” he said.

Manivannan said the old DBKL sports complex had badminton, tennis, and volleyball courts but the current facility lacked all that.

“From what I can see, there are no badminton, tennis, or volleyball courts, but there are two basketball courts. Why aren’t there other courts?” he said.

He also wants the sports facility to be free-of-charge for the residents in certain cases.

Manivannan, who has been playing football at the field for the past 25 years, said the field is supposed to be for social enhancement purposes.

“Every local resident should be given an opportunity to use the field for free for the purpose of society and community development.

“Maybe in a week, three days can be free for the use of the community and residents at a specific time.

“They can start by applying for their slots and residents should be given priority because there is no public field for them here.

“Residents who want to rent the place for events and probably have tournaments can be given a discount. So, in this aspect, there is a balance of enhancing community purposes as well as for private events,” he said.

Another resident, Kavilan, 37, also said that the field was vital for the development of the community, most importantly the children in Brickfields.

He said that children in the vicinity have been without a playing field since 2017 when the previous sports complex was demolished.

“I played football here from a young age until it was closed down. The kids today don’t have a proper field or sports facilities.

“Most parents have to bring their children elsewhere because there is no place here for them to play, develop their skills, or make friends,” he said.

Kavilan, the third generation in his family residing in Brickfields, said the scarcity of public playing fields in the capital city is concerning.

“The PR1MA housing project here is completed and people will be moving in soon. Then there is the government apartment at Jalan Ang Seng.

“Now, MRCB (Malaysia Resources Corporation Berhad) has just completed one of its residential projects. So, where will all these people go for sports activities?” he said. – June 2, 2024.