RM130 mil for Sports Halls - Why Not Upgrade, Datuk?
Datuk Ismail Sabri has announced an RM130 million allocation (published in The Star yesterday 17-Apr, p. S68 - yes, MSM-reader guilty as charged, but it was supplied to my Office and I thought I should read what they say as well in the “star-diwara paper”) to build multi purpose halls in every district in Msia to promote sports amongst youths.
While I applaud the Minister's move away from the previous syiok-sendiri-overspent-underperformed-RM200-for-four-screwdrivers policies of Azalina 67-million-bucks-England-training-centre Othman; to minimize the expenditures by building the halls instead of full blown sports complexes, I do think that this amount of money can better be spent maintaining or upgrading existing facilities. Datuk Ismail said that each hall will cost RM100k, but what can we get from 100k? We certainly do not want to have sub-standard facilities which will be run-downed in a few months. If we've got roof leaking after spending millions, then RM100k, apa itu?
Rather, I hope the Minister will consider channelling the funds (RM130 juta, bukan main kecil amount tu) to upgrade existing facilities such as our Penang International Sport Arena, or the Batu Kawan Stadium, or the public padangs. And of course, we can allocate budgets for new buildings in places where there are no avenue for sporting activities. But the key point is, focus on expandibility and sustainability.
Finally, a plus point for the Minister for saying that the contracts for any of the constructions will be awarded to local contractors (of respective district) through open tendering system. A fresh air of change, hopefully, with this new guy given our Ministry's 2007 infamous audit report. And with that, better quality job done.
If the government still think that the younger generation only has 'sport' as the main activity, they are still very much living in 1990s. Instead of concentrating on physical sports alone, the government should give attention to electronic gaming which is a rising activity among youth now.
Thus, i think gaming tournament or events like that should also be keep in view as one attraction to the younger generation.
opps..forgot to leave a name behind… it's me… JW