POOR SPORT FACILITIES IN SABAH

FACILITIES..... Hiew, Andrew Lee and Dr. Joseph Lee at the Likas Sport Complex.

MANY government sport facilities in Sabah, especially those in Kota Kinabalu are urgently needed upgrading and modernization to allow our sport activities to have a better place for their training and competitions.

This was disclosed by the Kota Kinabalu Member of Parliament Hiew King Cheu after he attended the 3rd Sabah Asian 14 & under Junior Tennis Championship tournament held in the Likas Sport Complex today.

He noticed that the huge sport complex in Likas has not been given the best of cares, and many part is in need of repair and maintenance. The tennis court by right should have a roof over the courts to allow for an all weather usage of the courts. The problem now faced by the tennis players is that the open court are very hot during the days and they couldn’t continue the games when it rains.

It is not understand why these open courts are now given with a roof covering to create an all weather court like other countries is having. The simple roof can be constructed using the white tarpaulin material which is widely used in the Kuala Lumpur Mono-rail station. This is light, durable and nice looking, and it is cheap to erect. The similar type can be seen at the KK Sutra Harbor tennis court.

Besides, the quality of the facilities here is falling into pieces, like the cracked floors, spoiled paint work, dirty drains, dead trees, and poor lightings. This will bring a bad impression from oversea visitors during international sport meets. The sport complex has many workers, ranging from managers, supervisors, foremen, engineers, and other staff, are they restricted to carry out their proper work here?

MP Hiew criticizes the state government for not really putting in an effort to upgrade the sport facilities to uplift the training of our sportsman. We want to see great results and getting the medals for Sabah during any sport meets.

The swimming champion in the Olympic Games from Sarawak has brought Sarawakian a great honor, what about Sabah? The Sabah Tennis Association in organizing this international tennis competition event for the 14 years and under is very much encouraged, and the event has brought in many oversea tennis champions to Sabah.

The competition has allowed the local tennis players a great chance to observe and learn. The foreign tennis players at the same time also visit other tourism spot in Sabah as our valued tourists too.

The government should put in an effort to allocate more funding for the development of our sports in Sabah. The government is not providing some fund in supporting international level sport competition and let alone the required training for the Sabah sportsman. The sport activities in Sabah are falling so far behind now, and we must ensure that this is to be developed further in the future.