Singam (red shirt) with other TPCA members and MPKj councillors at the field that the association wants to turn into a sports ground.
THE Tamilans’ Physical Cultural Association (TPCA) is seeking Selangor government’s approval for its request to convert the status of its land in Kajang from agricultural to recreational.
The 2.14ha land in Sungai Kantan was acquired by TPCA in 2001.
The association initially planned to turn it into a sports club, but decided on a sports venue instead, to host games such as cricket, football, hockey and netball.
About RM1mil was spent between 2012 and 2018 to refurbish the land and transform it into a playing field.
However, its application for the conversion of land status in 2020 was rejected by Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj).
TPCA president K.J. Singam said the association wanted to build sports facilities for the benefit of the surrounding community.
“We want to encourage more people, especially the young ones, to take up sports.
“Since the establishment of TPCA in 1914, it has contributed a lot to sports.
“Many national athletes were our members and trained on our grounds.
“There are about 500 members. Although the association was formed by members of Tamil descent, associate membership is open to all,” he said.
Singam said the field was actively used after the refurbishment, including for the Asian Cricket Council Under-19 Eastern Region Malaysia 2019.
“There is much demand for the field.
“We have to rent makeshift toilets and tents on event days.
“Until the land status is changed to recreational, we cannot construct anything at the site.
“We want to build some basic facilities, namely perimeter fence, changing rooms, seating area and toilets.
“When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, all activities on the field had to stop.
“It is a waste that a good playing field is not being used to its full capacity,” he said.
Kajang assemblyman Hee Loy Sian, who visited the site with several MPKj councillors and met with TPCA members to discuss the matter, said he would bring it up with MPKj soon.
He said the initiative by TPCA encourages sporting activities among the community.
“It is private land. I think the hiccup in zoning is a technical matter that I hope to address and resolve,” he said.
