Abdul Hajis (standing seventh right) with former hockey players join youths of Sentosa in protest.
The fenced makeshift hockey field in Kampong Sentosa, Salim.
SIBU: A makeshift hockey pitch in Kampong Sentosa, Salim Road here is making way for the proposed Sibu Sentral Bus Terminal project, much to the chagrin of kampong youths.
The field in Sentosa Utara Lane 7 has been fenced since last week.
The youths and other kampong folks are lamenting the turn of events, complaining they had been promised that the field would be turned into a permanent hockey field.
Former hockey players, who have joined the youths in the protest, recall that the promise to transform the pitch into a permanent hockey facility was made as early as the 1980s.
Abdul Hajis Abdullah for one feels that the promise should be honoured.
“We are not against development here. However, this field must stay and not to be disturbed so that the people especially the young people can have a place for recreational activities,” he told reporters yesterday.
Abdul Hajis, who was previously secretary of Sibu Division Hockey Association, said putting up the fence there was done without any consultation with the former hockey players.
“We have to be consulted since we have been promised that a hockey field would be built there.
“The view of former hockey players on the matter has to be sought. We’ve brought glory to Sibu,” he said, adding that some of them had even represented the state in the game.
“Sibu was once very strong in hockey. We’ve the record of winning Sarawak Championship for 13 years running in the 1980s,” he asserted.