Work in progress to upgrade premises

What say you on the issue below?

AFTER decades of lying in a state of uncertainty, the National Sports Complex (NSC) has started upgrading work to revive the 97-year-old former premises of the TPCA.

A City Hall signboard with details of the project was up but there was no mention of what is being done to the stadium.

Earth work has also begun at the site but repeated calls to the number listed on the board went unanswered.

The TPCA stadium was taken away by the government in 1982 with the aim of replacing it with a hockey stadium.

But that did not materialise and the stadium was handed over to the NSC to house their sports science unit. It has since become a storeroom of sorts.

Details on project: A signboard stating that the former TPCA stadium is being upgraded.

Since its original purpose of building a stadium did not come through, members are appealing to the government to have it returned to the association to manage.

Members are now appealing to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak via Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin to help them get a grant of RM5mil to build a sports complex in Kajang.

TPCA was founded on March 1, 1914, by a group of young Tamil government servants in Jalan Simpang.

These young men obtained a grant for a 2.05ha land from the government and the following year work on creating a field started.

Armed with spades and rakes, they toiled after work to clear the land which was a former mine.

In 1919, the first clubhouse which was a semi-permanent structure was erected at a cost of RM1,018. Cricket was first played on the TPCA ground against Selangor Club, YMCA and other teams.

The club entered a team in the Selangor Football League and emerged fourth among the eight teams.

A series of cricket, football and tennis leagues were then organised.

The 1930’s saw the existing building being renovated to cater to the increased activities.

Fencing was erected around the field and clubhouse.

Women were also admitted as members for the first time. The TPCA football team created a record by winning the Selangor Association Football League.

A concrete wall was built around the field in 1955 to accommodate 7,000 spectators.

Covering 2.05ha, it is touted to be the first stadium in the country.

It was renamed after it was handed over to the NSC in August, 1982.