Soon (second left), Ng (centre, black mask) and MPKK members in front of the hall before it was demolished.
A COMMUNITY hall left idle for more than 20 years in Kampung Melayu, Penang, was demolished to make way for a new sports facility.
Ayer Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng Soon Siang said the plan was to build a RM35,000 sepak takraw court at the end of the year.
He said the hall built in 1960 had become a favourite haunt of drug addicts and bad hats over the years.
“Many drug addicts could be seen hanging around the place, according to the Kampung Melayu Community Management Council (MPKK).
“We will build a sepak takraw court to encourage recreational activities among the villagers here,” he said during a site visit recently.
A bulldozer knocking down the abandoned building used as a drug addict hideaway.
Penang youth and sports committee chairman Soon Lip Chee, who was also present, said they were still looking for a suitable contractor to build the court.
He said construction work was expected to begin in October and the sepak takraw court would be completed by mid-December.
“The court will be built as per the specifications set by the Malaysian Sepak Takraw Association.
“It will come with suitable flooring and markings, and be complete with poles, nets, metal fences, an umpire’s chair and lights.
“The area of the court will be 570m² and furnished with buffer layers,” he said, adding that the hall would be open to the public with the charges to be set by the maintenance agencies.
Source: The Star
