GUA MUSANG: The deteriorating condition of a 30-year-old sports pavilion at the Felda Chiku 2 public field has raised safety concerns, despite the facility continuing to be used for sports activities and community programmes.
A Bernama check found that the facility, built in 1995, has suffered extensive damage, with part of the roof torn off while several ceiling panels are hanging loose after the nails holding them in place came off.
Despite being in an unsafe condition, the pavilion continues to be used as shelter during training sessions, a substitutes’ bench during matches and a venue for various community programmes.
Felda Chiku 2 Football Association manager Mohamad Riduan Sidi Ahmad said various efforts had been made to secure allocations to repair the facility, but there had been no progress so far.
“The pavilion was built by Felda in 1995 and has never undergone upgrading works or reconstruction. We are very disappointed that an important facility for training and nurturing the talents of young people here has yet to receive the attention it deserves,” he told Bernama recently.
Felda Malaysia Youth Council (MBFM) Felda Chiku 2 chairman Muhammad Zaidatul Azizi Mohd Zaidatul Azman said residents had no choice but to continue using the pavilion as there were no other facilities available at the field.
He said at least three maintenance proposals had been submitted to Felda since 2022, while the latest application was sent last week to the Felda chairman and several relevant agencies, including the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU).
“Alhamdulillah, the ICU has informed us that it has received the application. We now hope the relevant authorities will visit the site to see the actual condition of the pavilion before deciding on the appropriate action.
“This public field is not only used for sports training and tournaments, but also for various community programmes and collaborations with government agencies, as it can accommodate more than 300 people at any one time,” he said.
Meanwhile, Felda Chiku 2 manager Mohd Nur Faiz Dasar said the management had taken note of the issue and confirmed that all applications received had been forwarded to the relevant authorities.
He said priority was currently being given to repairing more critical infrastructure, such as drainage systems, while the proposal to upgrade or rebuild the pavilion was still awaiting approval.
“The issue was also raised during the visit by the Felda director-general to Gua Musang. We were also informed that a local elected representative was interested in providing a contribution, but so far we have yet to receive any feedback from MBFM,” he said.
For residents, the increasingly dilapidated condition of the pavilion not only affects users’ comfort but also increases the risk of accidents, especially among children and teenagers who use it almost every day.
Rozisham Abdul Aziz, 47, said he constantly reminded youths not to stay under the pavilion without adult supervision due to concerns that the damaged ceiling could collapse at any time.
“The pavilion is still used as a resting place during training sessions and as the substitutes’ bench during matches, although its condition is becoming increasingly worrying,” he said.
Muhammad Hazim Mohd Bakri, 26, shared similar concerns, saying he no longer dared to take shelter under the pavilion due to the deteriorating condition of the roof, especially during rain or strong winds in the afternoon.– BERNAMA
