The Malaysian Insight

THE Kinrara Oval cricket ground in Puchong hopes its legacy of having hosted international tournaments over the past 15 years will save it from closure and being replaced by a development project.

Its future is uncertain, following developer Kinrara Housing Bhd’s (PKB) statement yesterday that it is demanding the return of the land in keeping with a lease agreement it entered into with the Malaysian Cricket Association (MCA) 15 years ago.

MCA’s groundskeepers were served a notice a month ago to vacate the premises by October 31, when the contract with PKB expires.

The developer has reiterated that MCA had always known that the site was earmarked for development.

The association also owes a “sizeable sum” in unpaid rent to PKB, it said.

But, MCA president Mahinda Vallipuram said the site was a park before it was turned into the cricket ground, and that he hopes the space will be retained as an open site.

“Our option is to stay here. We remain positive. I hope we can find a solution to remain here. This is a world-class ground,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“This ground is our hard work, with all our blood, sweat and tears. It would be sad if it came to that, but we are positive that the outcome will be good.”

The association is now appealing to PKB via the Youth and Sports Ministry to let it stay at the site.

Mahinda said the cricket body has invested close to RM10 million in Kinrara Oval.

It has a seating capacity of 5,000 and meets international tournament standards, with a top-line drainage system to prevent flooding during thunderstorms and the monsoon season.

The ground is home to the national men and women’s cricket teams, and hosted the 29th Sea Games last year.

The men’s team is placed 27th globally, and the women’s team, 31st.

The site is now on prime land, located near the newly built Bandar Kinrara 5 light rail transit station, and a cluster of new shops and up-and-coming condominiums.

Sources said the plan is to turn the cricket ground into a high-rise condominium and shopping complex.

The land is owned by PKB, a subsidiary of I&P Group Sdn Bhd. I&P Group, meanwhile, is owned by developer SP Setia Bhd. Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) has a 55.93% controlling stake in SP Setia.

Interestingly, MCA patron Tunku Imran Tuanku Jaafar used to be group chairman of Island & Peninsular Bhd, comprising I&P Group and two companies under PNB.

Mahinda said MCA met the developer in April, and the discussions appeared “positive”.

However, PKB went on to serve the notice for the land to be vacated.

Cricket enthusiasts are disheartened by the news, and a small protest was staged at Kinrara Oval last week to demand that the agreement with PKB be reversed.

Former youth and sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin has highlighted the association’s plight on Twitter, tagging his successor, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, in the post.

Rembau MP Khairy said he had written two letters to PNB in an attempt to resolve the issue during his time in office, and Syed Saddiq replied that the new Pakatan Harapan government will follow up on the matter.

The Subang Jaya Municipal Council earlier this month said it cannot intervene as it has no jurisdiction over the land, which belongs to the developer.

Nevertheless, the Youth and Sports Ministry is still trying, with Deputy Minister Steven Sim saying he will look at all angles, including possible issues with the site’s land title.

“Perhaps, this happened because in the past, someone did not follow the rules. We do not discount the element of swindling. This land title matter should be made clear.”

He added that the ministry is mulling a moratorium to allow MCA to continue using the cricket ground after November 1. – October 27, 2018.