KUCHING: The state government is moving ahead with plans to develop a velodrome as part of the Sarawak Sports Complex, with the process of reclaiming the necessary land from the Federal Land Commissioner currently in progress.
The proposed facility is expected to further enhance the state’s sports infrastructure and complement existing world-class venues.
Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah emphasised the importance of integrating the new velodrome within the Sarawak Sports Complex, which already houses a variety of top-tier sports facilities.
“Presently, there are two pieces of land out there, which come up to about 60-plus acres. We are taking back the land because it is located right next to the existing Sarawak Sports Complex,” he said during the JCI Malaysia Sustainable Development Award (SDA) press conference yesterday (Feb 10) at the Mulu Meeting Room, Level 17, Baitulmakmur Building 2.
“I want, as much as possible, our sports facilities to be within the Sarawak Sports Complex. Presently, we have almost all the sports down there. You name it — we have two stadiums, the Lapangan Sasar shooting range, the hockey field, the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre, the sports village, and the latest addition, the cricket ground, which is now the best in Malaysia. The velodrome is the missing link,” he said.
Abdul karim, who is also Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Minister, further explained that the state government has already approved the project, and the Land and Survey Department has been tasked with handling the acquisition process.
“The state aims to complete the velodrome by 2027, aligning with its vision to establish Sarawak as a premier sports hub in Malaysia,” he said.
On the matter of land acquisition, Abdul Karim clarified that it is a forced acquisition, meaning that the federal government cannot refuse the request.
“When it is a forced acquisition, you cannot say no. Even the federal government cannot say no. So the state needs the land for development to proceed, meaning that we can just build it now,” he explained.
The new velodrome is expected to be a game-changer for cycling sports in Sarawak, providing a dedicated venue for training and competitions. With its strategic location within the Sarawak Sports Complex, it will further strengthen the state’s commitment to sports excellence and athlete development.
