OCM plans to build `cheap and available' RM5m hall

22/11/2001

THE Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) who have been playing a catalyst
role in the development of sport at the grassroots in Malaysia for decades
now, plan to stop that practice.
Now, they want to play a direct role, and the first step is the
construction of a new hall at the OCM building in Jalan Hang Jebat.
And their motto will be "cheap and available to all."
The RM5 million hall, according to OCM secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi,
will drastically cut down on excuses piled up by associations on the lack
of cheap facilities to develop their athletes.
"The quest for medals and glory has blinded most associations to neglect
the grassroots, so we at the OCM came up with an idea last year to build a
multi-purpose hall on our present car park so that there will no longer be
excuses on the lack of cheap facilities to train athletes.
"Earlier, the OCM were only overseeing development of sports in the
country, and that was our handicap. Now we want to play a bigger hands-on
role.
"OCM has agreed to impose minimal fees, like electricity and water and
if the case is deserving, we will not charge any fee at all for junior
development at our backyard," said Kok Chi yesterday.
Construction on the hall will begin early next year and the expected
completion date is 2003, coinciding with OCM's 50th anniversary.
"The present OCM building was built after the success of hosting the
1989 Sea Games in Kuala Lumpur, so after becoming the overall champions
this year with 111 gold medals, it is only appropriate that we erect a
monument to take sport in Malaysia to a higher level," said Kok Chi.
The hall, 50 metres-by-30 metres, will not be a five-star showcase like
the ones found at the National Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil, but instead,
have either a badminton or a netball court and a gym for conditioning
athletes.
"We decided to do away with the frills and make it more Spartan in
nature because we want to make it more affordable to our affiliates. The
emphasis will be on developing minor sports like table-tennis, judo,
wrestling, weightlifting, taekwondo, wushu and it will also be used to
host seminars, coaching clinics, and functions.
"The OCM building is surrounded by schools and with the LRT at our
doorstep, we feel that it will be fully utilised when completed."
Right now, most of the associations find the rental at the National
Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil and Bukit Kiara too steep for their liking,
but by 2003 they will have a cheaper alternative.
"The hall will not be able to host international tournaments, but then
again, that is not our goal. We are looking more at hosting schools, clubs
and age-group tournaments at the hall," said Kok Chi.
Kok Chi also feels that the present method of uprooting young and
budding athletes from rural schools and bringing them to Kuala Lumpur is a
bad idea.
"The present scenario is not conducive to develop a large base at State
level because once a budding athlete is discovered, he or she is placed in
the sports school and some of them crack under the intense pressure of
trying to excel in a short period.
"It will be better if the athletes are left in their respective States
and monitored closely until they are really ready to face the challenge of
the big city life.
"Right now most schools are not bothered with grooming their students
because once they become potential athletes, they are pinched and placed
in selected schools.
"It will be better for sports in Malaysia if the States are allowed to
share in the glory of developing and watching their sweat and toil
reaching the top of the podium, instead of selected schools basking in the
glory all the time."
jugjet@nstp.com.my
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