KOTA KINABALU: The Youth and Sports Ministry has acknowledged public concerns on the shortage of sports infrastructure in the state capital.
Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan said his ministry would do what it could to accommodate requests to build more sports facilities in the city but certain considerations must be made.
“We have many facilities for various sports here in the state capital but at the same time we admit there may be some shortages.
“We will upgrade some of the sports facilities when we have the chance but we must consider the sports complexes in other districts that have far fewer facilities than the one here,” Tawfiq said.
He was commenting on grouses made by the public on the issue of over-crowding (at the Likas aquatic centre) when met by reporters at the ministry’s Hari Raya open house at the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex here, yesterday.
Also present was Assistant Minister Masiung Banah, permanent secretary Datuk Suzannah Liaw and Sabah Sports Board chairman Datuk Louis Rampas, among others.
Last week, Luyang assemblyman Dr Hiew King Cheu received public complaints on over-crowding at the competition swimming pool in Likas.
The complainant said space allocated for the general public was too small and becomes over-crowded during peak hours on weekends and public holidays.
A survey at the pools revealed that six out of eight lanes of the competition pool are reserved for training sessions conducted from 4pm to 6pm daily.
This leaves only two lanes for public use, while usage of the diving pool (with high platform) also for training sessions, give little space for others to enjoy the public facilities.
Dr Hiew proposed that an additional two lanes be open to the public and that operating hours could be extended from 7pm (currently) to 9pm to accommodate public requests.
A discussion between Hiew and the complex management resulted in the proposed construction of a new pool, which Hiew said would solve the over-crowding issue once and for all.
Meanwhile, Tawfiq said there are currently 13 sports complexes all over the state, which reflected Sabah’s development in sports from the pre-independence years of the early 1960′s.
“I think this is a testimony of how well the development of sports and sporting infrastructure have come since that era.
“And all of these facilities have helped to produce high calibre athletes who have gone on to represent not only the state but also the country at the highest level of international competitions,” said Tawfiq.
He said the government, through his ministry would continue its efforts to further boost the development of sports so that Sabah can have more top-notch athletes in the future.
Towards this end Tawfiq said Malaysians and Sabahans in particular should be grateful for the country’s independence, without which, none of the modern developments today would be possible for them to enjoy.