PENAMPANG: A group calling itself Penampang Watchers will mount a banner campaign seeking Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ellron Alfred Angin’s resignation if upgrading work at the Penampang Sports Complex now into their third year remains unresolved in three months.
It would also ask MACC to investigate any discrepancy in the contract procurements relating to the upgrading works involving the Sabah Sports Board.
Speaking on behalf of football clubs, Sports and Football Academy and community users of facilities at the complex, spokesman Edwin Keegan said the floodlights remain uncompleted after more than two years and the tracks and field facilities remain deplorable.
Edwin, who has been organising football tournaments for decades in the district, said the Complex was totally closed on Jan 9, 2023 but after three months no work was carried out, depriving public use of the only recreational facility in the district.
Football and rugby games were congested at Padang B while some young runners had to use hard pavements for their training.
After the first social media video was produced, Edwin said he received a letter from the Sports Board stating they are still preparing the documentation for the procurement, and the complex had to be closed for a year.
“After one year, there was another 6 months extension but the lights still could not be turned on. Only then we were informed there is no electricity substation for the floodlights and that if the existing one is used the whole of Donggongon will get a blackout,” said Edwin.
“The Sports Boards have their engineers/consultants as shown in the project signboard. Why was this not included in the planning? It is like building a house but leaving out the wiring,” he said.
The delays deprived the sporting community here while causing loss of rental income for the complex.
“After more than two years all we have are four miserable poles standing in the fields. Yet, Keningau, Papar and Tambunan all have floodlights.
Edwin is surprised the local YBs and MP who is also an assemblyman did not even raise this in the State Assembly.
“The wear and tear on the running tracks and field have created holes and bumps which are dangerous when nearby schools are holding their annual sports day,” said Edwin. He said the Minister was a national sprinter and should know how important the tracks are for the slogan “Majulah Sukan Negara”.
Students from two schools were seen doing their training on the tracks. One student interviewed said he is from SK Bahang and one of his teammates fell on the track and broke his arm.
Senior joggers are disappointed that the track outside the fence of the complex field remain closed.