Blow for sportsKUALA LUMPUR: Pusat Kecemerlangan Sukan Cochrane — the nation’s largest school sports centre for excellence — will be demolished as part of Jalan Cochrane’s redevelopment plan.
Questions are raised on the move as it only underwent a RM5 million renovation less than two years ago.
Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Shabery Cheek expressed disappointment over the loss of football fields, noting Manchester in England had 12 fields in the city centre itself.
It is understood the centre will make way for a shopping mall and the proposed mass rapid transit (MRT) line.
Located on the former grounds of SMK Jalan Cochrane, it houses the KL Schools Sports Council (MSSKL) and is the hub for statelevel sporting activities for KL schoolchildren.
Covering an area of five hectares, the five-year-old centre boasts two football fields, two basketball courts, three sepak takraw courts, a hall, dining area, gymnasium and a hostel for 400 students. Such facilities are rare in the city centre.
In 2009, the Treasury granted RM5 million to upgrade its facilities, such as installing a drainage system for the football fields, upgrading the dining hall, and building a warden’s room and security booth.
MSSKL has been asked to move to a temporary base at the Sri Kota Teacher’s Training College in Jalan Maran, near Titiwangsa, by next month.
Sports experts believe its role will be redundant due to the lack of playing space and facilities at Sri Kota, which is about 0.8 ha in size.
While the schools in the vicinity are unaffected by the redevelopment plan, school teachers are baffled over why the sporting hub will be torn down.
A meeting, chaired by Education Ministry representative Nazirruddin Abdul Rahman, was held on July 22, 2010, in Putrajaya, during which MSSKL was given two options — move to nearby ‘Plot C’ or Bukit Jalil, it was learned.
Insiders claim the Bukit Jalil site is unsuitable as it is in a ravine, and would cost a huge sum for earth and construction works. ‘Plot C’, on the other hand, is only 3.2ha.
MSSKL had voiced unhappiness over the relocation plan and hoped it would be allowed to move only after the new centre in ‘Plot C’ was ready.
It is, however, understood work on ‘Plot C’ has yet to start as the developers are having problems evacuating squatters there. Part of the land also houses government quarters which have yet to be demolished.
It was learnt, after several meetings, MSSKL was given its “marching orders” last week.
“We don’t understand why this is happening as the schools in the area will not be torn down. Why then, is the excellence centre affected?” asked a school teacher.
“Even if we have to move to the new plot, it’s just across the road. Why the need to go somewhere else only to come back to the same area? Wouldn’t it be cost effective to house us here until the new centre is ready?”
Another teacher questioned the need to tear down the facility. “There is no way of getting another sports centre with two football fi elds in the heart of KL. Politicians lambast youths for indulging in vice and turning into Mat Rempit, but they are same people who are robbing them of their playing fields.”
MSSKL sports unit head Nordin Mohd Noor could not be reached for comment as he left for Sarawak on Friday.
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Tough to train elsewhere
KUALA LUMPUR: The KL football team is forced to scout for a new training ground ahead of the Ministry of Education League that kicks off on Saturday.
The KL Schools Sports Council (MSSKL) will have to move out by next month to the Sri Kota Teachers Training College in Jalan Maran while waiting for its new, but smaller, centre to be completed. Work on the new centre is estimated to take 18 to 24 months to complete.
“It is going to be difficult to find an alternative place that can accommodate the team. The field is practically ours and we can utilise the other facilities here. If we were to train elsewhere, we have to be mindful of the other sporting activities that could take place,” said a team member.
“Other schools will conduct their physical education classes and training. We can’t just use the field. Stadiums are not cheap either.”
The centre plays host to a number of sporting events, including the nationwide talent identification programme by the Education Ministry, and is also open to the public on weekends. A wedding was held in the indoor hall last week.
It is understood there had been plans to construct an archery range, a hall for rhythmic gymnastics and an open space area next to the fields.
Approached by The Malay Mail, an MSSKL official, who declined to be named, had this to say: "Sorry, we cannot comment. If we do, we'll be transferred to Timbuktu."
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Shaberry disappointed
YOUTH and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek admitted he was "disappointed" to hear the two football fields would be sacrificed in the name of development.
When asked to comment on the relocation of the KL Schools Sports Excellence Centre in Jalan Cochrane, he said: "It's not the location but the role played by the institution that matters. If given a new place, the institution must get better facilities than what they already have.
"Manchester boasts 12 football fields in the heart of town. Don't tell me the value of land in Manchester is cheaper than KL?," said Ahmad Shabery after the Sportswriters Association of Malaysia-Media Awards at a hotel in Subang yesterday.
"Fields are supposed to be preserved and kept as green lungs. Major cities around the world have nice fields and we should have the same, too."
The Star 
Mar 7 2011, 01:45 AM
- 22 - Kelantan
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