The former hotel proposed as a site for the Selangor eSports City in Jalan Akuatik now lies abandoned and overgrown with vegetation. — Photos: MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star
The Selangor eSports City project, planned to be the largest e-sports development centre in South-East Asia, has been delayed indefinitely.
The RM10mil centre was to be located on the site of a former hotel in Jalan Akuatik, Shah Alam.
It was supposed to be a collaboration between key national e-sports stakeholders, namely the Malaysia Electronic Sports Federation (MESF), Esports Association Selangor (ESS) and University Malaysia of Computer Science & Engineering (UNIMY) along with technology partner Serba Dinamik Group Bhd.
Explaining the stalled project, Selangor youth, sports and entrepreneurship committee chairman Najwan Halimi said Serba Dinamik went out of business.
“The proposed site near the Darul Ehsan Aquatic Centre has legal issues with its former operator.
“The land is still under the state’s purview, but there are no current specific plans to continue the development of the eSports City,” he said.
He, however, added that a discussion with Mentri Besar Incorporated (MBI) regarding the site would be held soon.
The poor condition inside the abandoned former hotel.
Najwan said due to the site being near the planned Shah Alam Sports Complex (SASC), he was pushing for the space to be utilised as an e-sports hub and possibly integrating it with the complex.
The former hotel at the site is now an abandoned building.
Selangor Red Giants (SRG) manager Simon Mason Lim said despite the increasing recognition and investment in e-sports, there was still a need to improve training facilities, tournament arenas, funding mechanisms and regulatory support.
Esports Association Selangor (ESS) president Abdul Razak Mohd Yusof, who proposed the site for eSports City, said this was because Section 13 was known as the sports section in Shah Alam with road names such as Jalan Lawan Pedang, Jalan Bola Sepak and Jalan Berenang, among others.
“The centre should not be looked at as just an arena to play games because it is supposed to have an academic element as well.
“Selangor will be the host for Sukma (Sukan Malaysia) next year, but we have yet to have our own e-sports hub.”
Abdul Razak added that with their own e-sports hub, when a massive gaming event came around, the players would have a place to call their own without the need to fork out high expenses.
“If it is our own arena, the cost to hold a large event will be reduced,” he said, adding that e-sports athletes would also have proper accommodations at the centre.
He suggested that the state government cooperate with them in realising development plans for the hub to improve the e-sports industry. — By MEGAT SYAHAR
