Bukit Jalil to be affordable

04/03/1999

SPORTS Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday assured associations
that they will soon be able to use facilities at the Bukit Jalil Sports
Complex at reasonable rates.
Speaking at a Post Cabinet briefing in Kuala Lumpur, Muhyiddin said a
review of the current rental rates will be sent to sports associations
soon.
"I have had discussions with the Stadium Board and they assured me new
rates are being worked out," he said.
"The Stadium Board have agreed to come up with different rates for
national trainings, local tournaments and world class events.
"If tickets are sold for the event, the Stadium Board will naturally set
a higher rate. But for training and local tournaments, the rates would be
reasonable and affordable."
The present rates set by the Stadium Board is beyond the reach of
associations who want to organise local tournaments.
The National Under-21 hockey scheduled for March 13-21 at the National
Hockey Stadium was postponed and move to Ipoh.
Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) secretary S. Satgunam said this was
because they could not raise the RM40,000 fees charged for the National
Hockey Stadium.
Muhyiddin, however, said the Stadium Board denied that they gave MHF the
charges in writing.
The rental charges for venues under the Stadium Board were decided by
the Cabinet.
Last year the Malaysian Netball Association (MNA) decided against using
the Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara when they were quoted RM2,000 per day.
The five-day national championship would have cost the MNA, who don't
charge for entrance, RM10,000.
MNA opted for Stadium Negara, the usual venue.
SRA of Malaysia (SRAM), who earlier announced that they would move their
office from the Olympic Council of Malaysia building to the squash centre
in Bukit Jalil, had second thoughts when they were quoted steep rentals.
SRAM, who pay RM364 per month to the OCM, proposed about RM500 at Bukit
Jalil. But this was not accepted.
SRAM also put on hold moving national training to Bukit Jalil.
"The Bukit Jalil complex was built for sport and there is no move to
make it into a business centre by holding exhibitions and concerts," said
Muhyiddin.
"Only when there are no booking for sport will the Stadium Board look
for other sources of income.
"RM12 million per year is needed for the upkeep of the complex in Bukit
Kiara and Bukit Jalil and since sport is seasonal, the Stadium Board have
to look elswhere.
"But rest assured the new rates will not burden sports associations."
Right now, if tickets are sold for a tournament, the stadium managers do
not charge rental but collect 15 per cent of the gate earnings.
If 15 per cent of the daily gate earnings is less than RM2,000, then
they charge a flat rate of RM2,000 per day.
(END)