MBKS to have multipurpose centre for sports

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Chan (centre) showing a draft design of the centre.

KUCHING: The Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Multipurpose Centre, which is now at the design stage, is expected to provide a new facility for healthy activities among youths and sports enthusiasts.

The centre will cater for various sports activities, from badminton, volleyball, futsal, rock climbing to skate boarding and roller skating, revealed Mayor Dato James Chan yesterday.

“We have sought help from the state government for some grant to build this facility. We are very grateful to receive RM6-million grant for this project, and we will make sure that it will be fully used to build this centre.

“It does not have to be a very expensive building because we want it to be simple, neat and can be used for various games and activities, both for youths and children,” he told the press after chairing MBKS full council meeting yesterday.

He said the council had engaged an architect to design the centre and its construction would start as soon as possible, with the completion date end of next year.

He also revealed that the council had gathered feedback from sports people to make sure that the building is well accepted by the people.

“We want to make sure both the indoor and outdoor of the centre can be fully utilised. Even the walls can be used for climbing activities while the outdoor can be for roller skating and skateboarding.

“Currently, MBKS only has an indoor stadium for basketball and a squash court. However, we can see that this is not fully utilised because not many people go there. What we are doing now is to provide the best for the people, at the same time to create a culture of sports,” he said.

Furthermore, he said, after a thorough study, the council found out that there were not enough facilities for people and children to play or hold sports activities, adding some urban people even had to drive up to Mile 10 or even further just to use badminton facilities there.

Once completed, a minimal fee would be charged for the usage of the centre, he said. He also expressed his hope that the people would work closely with the council to take care of the facility as it will be a property for all.

The multipurpose centre will be located opposite MBKS indoor stadium, next to a squash court, on a 13-acre land.