KOTA KINABALU: The Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) yesterday clarified that the conversion of part of the football field in Inanam town into carpark lots was part of a project to transform the disused field into a public recreational area that is better suited to the taste and needs of the younger generation.
Its Transports and Traffic Division Director, Kalvin Liaw, said the facility is to be used by the public using the futsal court to be built on the open field, which is no longer suitable for football.
“The construction of the parking lots is not for DBKK use but for the public, as an additional facility for the public recreational project planned for the area.
“The parking lots are also not permanent as they can be converted in accordance to how the open area is utilized in future,” he said in a statement here.
He stressed that the project had been approved by the State Government and that City Hall has no intention of using the open area for any purposes other than for public recreation, as it should be.
The Inanam Town field, he added, was zoned as an open area under the DBKK Local Plan 2020 and will remain as such and will only be utilized as public facility, especially for sports and recreational activities.
The statement which came following certain groups questioning and objecting against the project, also explained that the construction of the parking lots was in line with the wish of the local communities as communicated to DBKK during a dialogue last year, which was also attended by Sepanggar member of parliament Datuk Jumat Idris.
“The carpark is needed for the public facilities to be built there, such as the futsal court or even a multi-purpose hall. This was among the proposals we have, which is to use part of the field as carpark as well as a community hall that can be used by the youth for sport activities, such as futsal.
“The open area has not been used as a football field for many years, partly because the area is now surrounded by commercial shoplot buildings which has made it not suitable for football. As such, City Hall has agreed for a community hall equipped with recreational sport facilities to be built there,” said Kelvin.
He said the project would allow the local communities more options in recreational sports, where they can choose between indoor games such as futsal or play football at the public field in Menggatal, which is located only 4km from Inanam.