GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government denies that a football field in Tanjung Tokong here has been handed over to a private entity.
State infrastructure committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said speculation among certain groups and NGOs were creating a wrong perception of the project.
"This is not privatisation. Certain parties are trying to twist the facts and give the wrong impression to the public," he said.
He said that the football field remains public property but the state, through Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI), had entered an agreement with a school to upgrade and maintain the facility.
"Like many public football fields, maintenance is usually minimal – grass is cut once in a while, and the goalposts, nets and field markings poorly maintained. What we want is a proper, well-maintained field for the community," he said.
He said under the arrangement, the school is allowed exclusive use of the field during school hours on weekdays.
"Outside these hours, including evenings, weekends and school holidays, the field is fully open to the public," he said.
Zairil said in exchange for the exclusive access on weekdays, the school will spend about RM450,000 to upgrade the field.
He said if the school stops maintaining the field, the state will take it back.
Zairil said only the football field would be fenced off for security and maintenance purposes, while the rest of the park remains unfenced and accessible to the public.
"A small section may be developed for basic facilities and these will also be open for public use.
"We have explained this arrangement to residents before.
"Unfortunately, there are still people claiming they were not informed, including some who do not even live in the area," he said.
Describing the initiative as a "win-win" solution, Zairil stressed that the state government would never agree to permanently hand over public land.
"The community gets a properly upgraded and well-maintained football field, while the school gets to use it during hours when it is normally underutilised. This benefits everyone," he said.
Zairil was responding to a planned public protest by Tanjung Bunga Residents Association on Feb 12 at Straits Green in Tanjung Tokong.
