He said the news had not gone down well with the UKRC members, numbering about 1,000, who shared his sentiment.
Gopal believed the task force panel which had been advising Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim could have misled him, and many facts had been left out by the panel.
He said that contrary to Khalid’s claims, the club had never been known as the Kuala Ampang Recreational and Community Club. UKRC was established in its present name on Sept 13, 1957.
It became incorporated as a legal entity because the Gombak Land Office had asked it to do so in 1958.
“They told us if we wanted to have the land alienated to the club, we needed to be incorporated. That is why we became a legal entity.”
He also said UKRC built the clubhouse at a cost of RM33,200 in 1958 and wondered why it needed to pay to own the place again.
Abdul Khalid had said during a state assembly meeting on April 1 last year that former menteri besar Dr Mohamed Khir Toyo had gazetted the land as an “open space” to “avoid paying compensation” to the residents.
“He had said back then he felt sorry for UKRC. You feel sorry for UKRC but you maintain the gazette made under the former MB?” asked Gopal.
He said Pakatan Rakyat’s election promise was made on March 1, 2008 during a visit by Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Gombak MP Azmin Ali to Kuala Ampang.
Although bitterly disappointed, Gopal said the club “is not giving up just yet”.
“I am going to write to the MB to request an appointment so we can explain the facts,” he said.
N. Thomas, an adviser to the Coalition of Residents Association in Ampang and Pandan, was equally critical of the state governments decision.
“Why are they touching the green belts? Have they never played football before?” he asked.
He said there was no need to take away the field and build a community hall.
9 Apr 2012
The Star - Metro
THE Selangor Government will decide on the fate of the Ulu Klang Recreation Club (UKRC) in Jalan Kabus, Kuala Ampang, during the executive councillors’ meeting on Wednesday.
The club and the Kuala Ampang community are appealing to Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim that any decision taken should be in the club’s favour as it was the only green lung in the area.
Club president Andrew Gopal said the UKRC had been serving the Kuala Ampang community and people from the surrounding areas as far as Rawang and Kajang and losing the field and its facilities would be a great loss.
“We are hoping the state government will amend the status of the club’s land.
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| Long history: Tan showing newspaper cuttings highlighting the history of the club and some of the illustrous players who had their start there. |
“We are waiting for the land title so that we can proceed with improving the clubhouse and its facilities to serve the community better,’’ said Gopal.
On Saturday, a group comprising committee members, children and their parents held a peaceful gathering at the field holding banners and appealing to the state government not to make a decision that will be detrimental to the future of the younger generation.
“This gathering is not a sign of protest but an appeal to the decision makers not to take the land away from us.
“We have been paying the land premiums since 1958,’’ Gopal said.
UKRC has been involved in a tussle with the local government for the past 20 years and Hulu Kelang assemblyman Saari Sungib made an effort to change the status of the land in April last year which was subsequently approved by the state assembly.
“It has been a year since then. The state government should issue a new land title for both the club and field,” said Gopal.
The UKRC was registered in 1957 and had produced outstanding sportsmen like the late Mokhtar Dahari.
Gopal said that issuing a permanent land title to the club would be just the right tonic to help it produce more outstanding players.
He added that another reason why the state government should decide in the club’s favour was because the UKRC was home to a junior football academy with more than 100 children under different age groups training under qualified coaches.
The UKRC became a bone of contention as the land was earmarked for the construction of 10 bungalows and a primary school in 1994.
The land was gazetted as a green area in 2005 and placed under the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council.
Parents Chee Pooi Cheong, 50, from Rawang and Hani Azman, 39, from Bukit Antarabangsa said they did not know where to take their children for football coaching clinics should the state government decide to take the land away.
“This club is the most convenient in terms of facilities and location for my three sons, aged between 8 and 12, although the boys had been playing at a club in Keramat before moving here,’’ said Hani.
Chee said he brought his boys to the football academy all the way from Rawang every Saturday because it was one of the best known clubs.
Chee’s sentiment was shared by the club’s past president Tan Foong Keong, 53, and Kuala Ampang village head Lim Ying, 62.
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Club members want rights to field, too
9 Apr 2012
New Straits Times - Streets
UNPLEASANT SURPRISE: UKRC learns that it is only given rights to clubhouse.
CONCERNED members of the Ulu Klang Recreational Club (UKRC) staged a peaceful demonstration on Saturday to appeal to the Selangor state government to give them the full rights to manage the land the club is situated on.
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| The UKRC club has been coaching young players aged eight to 16 on the pitch as part of its football development programme. Pic by Supian Ahmad |
UKRC president Andrew Gopal said the club had recently found out from reliable sources that the state government would only be giving UKRC the rights to the clubhouse and not the football field which is an important part of the club.
"We came to know last Monday that Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim had made the decision to only give us the rights to the clubhouse building and not the field," said Andrew.
"We are appealing to the MB to make the right decision and follow what has been passed in the state assembly on April 1, last year, which was supported by all Selangor Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) assemblymen.
"Today's (Saturday) event is an appeal, not a protest, to the Menteri Besar in the hope that he makes the right decision in the exco meeting next week when the fate of the land will be decided.
"As a matter of fact, UKRC had already obtained the approval for the field and clubhouse on July 12, 1958 and paid RM690 for the land at that time.
"What we are asking for is that the state government honours what was approved in 1958, and the motion passed in April last year. We are not asking for a new approval."
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| Members of the Ulu Klang Recreational Club appeal to the Selangor state government to allow them the right to use the field. Pic by Supian Ahmad |
Hulu Klang assemblyman Saari Sungib had in April last year presented a motion to either amend the land status from "open space" to "recreational" for the purpose of a football field and clubhouse, or to issue a new land title to UKRC with the condition that the land be used solely for recreational purposes and is not transferable or for sale.
Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng San, Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh, Teratai assemblyman Jenice Lee and Sijangkang assemblyman Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi supported Saari's motion.
The club, which is a non-profit outfit fully run by volunteers, is heavily involved in football development.
Their grassroots programme, which caters for young players aged eight to 16, currently has 150 children in its programme.
They are coached by ex-national and state players who are at the least Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) B licensed coaches.
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| Nazrul Hisham Makmur says UKRC club helps promote grassroots football |
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Abdul Saheed says children train at the pitch every week |
UKRC members Nazrul Hisham Makmur, 37, and Abdul Saheed, 37, said it would be pointless for the club to only receive the clubhouse and not the field as well.
"The club is not just for recreation, but is also actively involved in developing football.
"Without the pitch, it would not be possible anymore," said Nazrul Hisham.
"So many children from this area come to play and train at the pitch every week, which besides developing their skills and keeping them healthy, prevent them from getting involved in undesirable activities," said Abdul.
"If the state government takes away the field, there will be a huge social impact in this area," he added.
UKRC, though well-known as a football club, also offers activities such as karaoke, line dancing, yoga, table tennis and badminton for members.
The club also regularly fetes underprivileged individuals at various open house events throughout the year.
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UKRC members, Ampang residents still hopeful
9 Apr 2012
The Malay Mail
By Andrea Mathew
Selangor govt will decide on fate of football field this week
AMPANG: The only remaining international-standard sized public football field may be turned into a construction site for condominiums.
This is the fear of Kuala Ampang residents and Ulu Klang Recreational Club (UKRC) members as they pray and wait for the state government's decision on the fate of their field this week.
They can't understand why anyone would want to do away such an historical site in the name of development.
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| VOICING SUPPORT FOR THE CLUB: (From left) Habib Wahab, Nazrul Hisham and Lim Ying |
Sitting at the fringe of the field at dusk, one can understand why UKRC members have struggled so hard and long to save their land.
The cool breeze and the smell of grass that sweep across the 4.451-acres piece of land that nestles a one-acre club house and three-acres of lush green field, is haven in the midst of bustling Kuala Lumpur.
"It is the last of its kind. Many other fields in Cheras, Pudu, Kampung Baru, Sentul and Brickfields, just to name a few, have all given way to condominiums," said UKRC past president Ten Foong Keong.
"The club will fight on to save the land which is rightfully ours but never officially documented. UKRC is at the heart of Kuala Ampang and this is where residents enjoy evening walks, football, karaoke, line dancing and tai chi.
"Have we forgotten the residents who sacrificed much for the field for over half a century?"
He recalled residents who used their own money, besides their effort, sweat and tears to build on a mining pool a club house and football field to call their own.
"The club house and field was funded and built by residents with no contribution from the state."
Club member Datuk Habib Wahab said residents chose to gather and play at the field because they felt it is safer.
"Public parks are unsafe due to exposure to strangers in addition to the lack of maintenance by local authorities.
"You often find glass, nails and construction materials that litter the field," said Habib.
For Nazrul Hisham, the field brings back the nostalgia of past success of nurturing top sportsmen but also important for the future of sports development in the country.
"In the 60s and 70s, many outstanding footballers came from this field. Today we continue with the tradition. The club now has its own junior league with 140 students between the age of eight to 16."
Nazrul said although the club has been operating on a voluntary basis, it maintains international standards.
UKRC, said president Andrew Gopal, holds historical significance as it records a number of key milestones.
"Its opening in 1960 was officiated by Malaysia's first Health and Social Welfare Minister Datuk Ong Yoke Lin. The club was also the meeting ground during the Malaysian and Indonesian confrontation between founding Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman and the Indonesian government in the 1960s.
"Since 2000, the club held an annual international veteran football tournament hosting 12 teams each year from Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand.
"Events like these helped boost tourism," said Andrew.
Other milestones, he said, included raising funds for Malaysia's best known soccer son Mokhtar Dahari and later for former national football goalkeeper Ong Yu Tiang when he was stricken with leukemia.
Currently the club has 1,200 members but more than 2,000 residents from surrounding areas also enjoy the club facilities. Members' fee is RM20 per month.
On UKRC's future plans, Andrew said: "If our prayers are granted, the club plans to upgrade facilites by building a swimming pool and a squash court."
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Confidence in govt keeping promise
9 Apr 2012
The Malay Mail
By Andrea Mathew
AMPANG: Hundreds of well-wishers gathered at the controversial Ulu Kelang Recreation Club (UKRC) football field on Saturday to support and call for the state government to "return" the land to the dedicated committee who had been managing it since 1958.
Joined by residents of Kuala Ampang and those staying in the surrounding areas, the assembly drew a large crowd.
UKRC president Andrew Gopal said against all odds, residents and club members hoped the state government would either pass a motion to award the club the land title or amend the gazette, giving UKRC control of the land.
"Currently the land is gazetted as recreational land placed under Ampang Jaya Municipal Council's management," said Andrew.
UKRC, he said, also hoped Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim would not depend totally on the findings of the public hearing held on Jan 30.
"The report was, after all, a mere procedure to revoke or amend the gazette against UKRC."
Kuala Ampang residents and club members echoed Andrew's sentiment and felt the field should be left in their care as they have proven capable of maintaining the field for the last 50 years.
Kuala Ampang village head Lim Ying PJK said: "Only the residents will have the passion to upkeep this field because it has been part of our history for half a century." he said.
It was reported last Thursday, the state government confirmed it had made a decision on the status of UKRC. An announcement is expected this week.
Abdul Khalid said the decision has been made based on reports submitted by a task force which analysed the possibility of awarding the plot of land where the club sits, to the residents permanently.
Since inception, the club has not received a land title, despite having paid the land premium of RM690 since 1958.
There has been a tussle over the land since 1994 when the site was earmarked for construction of 10 bungalow lots and a primary school, which prompted a protest from residents and club members.
Eight years later, the site was allocated for a squatter relocation project, supported by former Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo.
To the locals' delight, it was later gazetted as a green area in 2005 and the public field remained.
However, the field was placed under the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council's management.
In 2008, Pakatan Rakyat promised that the UKRC land issue would be resolved if they took over the state administration.
On July 25 that year, Abdul Khalid verbally informed Ulu Klang assemblyman Saari Sungib that he was keen to resolve the UKRC controversy.
