KUALA LUMPUR – Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh is committed to helping national sports associations (NSA) deal with ongoing issues such as one that the Malaysian Cricket Association (MCA) currently has.
Yeoh is well aware of MCA’s issue with their search for a new training ground, which has been going on since last year.
The Segambut MP assured the association that her ministry will help to resolve the matter.
To do so, she said it is important to know what they need before she could run any suggestions.
“Like any other sport, cricket is looking for a home ground for training,” Yeoh said.
“I want to help them solve this, because if they could have a proper training facility, then the development of the sport could prosper.
“But before anything else, we would need to complete the necessary inventory to see if we can match up with things that they need or do not need.”
Previously, MCA had been ordered to vacate the Kinrara Oval in Puchong, after failing to settle RM1.8 million in assessment fees with the landowner Perumahan Kinrara Bhd (PKB).
The arrears from unpaid assessment fees stemmed from a long-standing dispute on tariff rates and has caused the association to be embroiled in a court battle with PKB.
This led to the national sporting body’s subsequent eviction from Kinrara Oval.
After leaving Kinrara, MCA was reported to be utilising the Sime Darby Foundation-UKM oval at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor Turf Club, and Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar.
Kinrara Oval has been an iconic venue for hosting several international tournaments including the Under-19 World Cup and cricket events for the 2017 SEA Games.
Meanwhile, Yeoh added that she is still in the process of meeting with more NSAs to hear the issues they are facing as well as to learn about their administrative system which may be used as an example to other associations.
“I also noticed that many national sports associations have their own unique characteristics that I want to learn from and use to help other associations.
“I have also had a dialogue session with everyone, but some have invited me to visit their facilities, training session, and breaking fast together,” she said.
Yeoh was met after officiating the Maybank Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Golf Championship 2023 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) here, today.
She said that such international-level tournaments will help boost the tourism sector and provide Malaysia a platform to highlight not only local athletes but also the quality facilities available in the country.
Maybank announced its return to golf after a three-year hiatus to organise the championship, which is sanctioned by the LPGA Tour and slated to take place on October 26-29 at the KLGCC.
Maybank group president and chief executive officer Datuk Khairussaleh Ramli said they are offering a total prize money of US$3 million (RM13.2 million).
“The championship will also set the stage for Malaysian and Asean female golfers to compete at the highest level, against the best in the game.
“It also provides them with a podium that is reflective of their talents and prestige within the sport.
“Many top female golfers in the LPGA are from the Asian region, including our very own Kelly Tan.
“We will reserve 10 spots for female golfers from this region and five from Malaysia. In total, we will have 78 participants,” he added.
The Maybank Championship 2023 will showcase most of the world’s top 50 female golfers which include multiple major winners, coming from over 53 countries. – The Vibes, March 28, 2023
