Stadium Board confirms suit

11/07/2002

NATIONAL Sports Complex manager Abu Bakar Kasim yesterday confirmed that
the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) are being sued for unpaid monies
from 1998.
Perbadanan Stadium Merdeka filed the suit in Seremban and a hearing is
scheduled for October this year.
Abu Bakar was unable to provide the exact amount owed but it is said to
be in the region of RM500,000.
Abu Bakar, when met at the Sports Minister's office, said the Stadium
Board had sent three reminders to MHF, and only decided to sue after
exhausting all other avenues.
"We went through all the proper channels like sending them three
reminders, (one month apart) before deciding to take legal action to get
back what has been due to us since the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth
Games," said Abu Bakar.
Abu Bakar also revealed that the monies due was for: "Rental, A-boards,
electricity, water and other facilities used from 1998."
"We have an agreement form where the interested party (those who want to
rent facilities at the Bukit Jalil Sports Complex) lists all the
facilities they want to use and the rental is explained to them.
"The MHF agreed to pay us the amount when they signed the form which the
Stadium Board counter signs," said Abu Bakar.
When asked if the MHF had approached them to settle the matter amicably,
Abu Bakar said: "They have approached us to trim some of the expenses and
we brought the matter up at our Board meeting but it was agreed that the
MHF must pay the full amount because they knew what they were getting into
when they signed the agreements."
Secretary General of the Sports Ministry Datuk Mahamad Zabri Min, who
confirmed that there is a legal tussle between the Stadium Board and the
MHF, said: "From what I was briefed, the Stadium Board has a legitimate
case against the MHF. Therefore, I hope the MHF will take the initiative
to settle the matter out of court.
MHF deputy president Tan Sri P. Alagendra, secretary S. Satgunam and
treasurer S. Perampalam attended a meeting with MHF president Sultan Azlan
Shah at Istana Perak in Kuala Lumpur yesterday and even before Satgunam
was asked for his comments on the phone, he said: "I don't wan't to speak
to you" and hung up.
Meanwhile, the Stadium Board has appealed to the government to reduce
their water and electricity tariffs so that they can pass the cut to those
who make bookings.
"We have applied to reduce the tariff (from commercial to residential)
and if it is approved, we will be able to reduce the cost of renting
facilities at the Bukit Jalil Complex," said Abu Bakar.
(END)