A SUITABLE location has yet to be found for the proposed motorsports complex in Selangor, which was first announced six years ago.
State youth, sports, and entrepreneurship committee chairman Mohd Najwan Halimi said several sites had been identified, but all were deemed unsuitable.
“So far, there has not been any suggestion to cancel the project,” said Mohd Najwan in reply to Muhammad Hilman Idham (PN-Gombak Setia) during the Selangor State Assembly sitting at Bangunan Dewan Negeri Selangor in Shah Alam.
Earlier, Mohd Najwan told Mohd Razali Saari (PN-Sungai Panjang) that Selangor Land and Mines Office (PTG) had reviewed multiple locations for the proposed racetrack.
“The initial site identified was in Sungai Tua, Gombak, with subsequent sites along Jalan Panglima Besar near Sungai Gumut in Kerling, Kampung Pasir Puteh in Kalumpang and Lembah Beringin,” he said.
“However, none of these locations were suitable for the development of a racetrack.”
Explaining the unsuitability of the Sungai Tua site, Mohd Najwan said a feasibility study concluded that the 16.2ha area could only accommodate a 2.25km racetrack.
“The site was unsuitable for drag racing as the achievable straight-line distance was only 340m, compared to the minimum approved length of 600m, including safety measures.”
He also highlighted environmental concerns.
“As the area includes a nearby river that flows into Batu Dam, there is a risk of pollution from earthworks and construction debris being carried by rainfall, potentially affecting the dam and water supply.
“Additionally, the site falls within an environmentally sensitivity area (ESA), which includes protected zones such as the Batu Dam water catchment area, Sungai Batu and its tributaries, as well as steep slopes,” he said.
During the 2019 budget announcement, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the building circuit and complex would encourage the development of motorsports in the state and the project would be built as a Public-Private Partnership.
Najwan added that the state instructed PTG to continue its search for a suitable site for the complex.
However, he said the state was currently prioritising identifying land for a land swap deal linked to the redevelopment of the Shah Alam Sports Complex.
