KUALA Ampang residents and Ulu Klang Recreational Club (UKRC) members are still waiting for the public hearing that was announced in April.

During the Selangor state assembly session in April, Hulu Klang assemblyman Saari Sungib tabled a motion to either reverse UKRC’s land title from open space to recreational or issue a new one.

A motion was passed and a public hearing was to follow but five months have passed with no answer or feedback on the matter.

Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has appointed Datuk Paduka Raja Wan Mahmood Pawan Teh to chair the public hearing.

Open field: The fate of UKRC is still in limbo as the public hearing has yet to be held.

Robert Lai, 74, who has been living in the area since 1954, has seen the club’s transformation from a mining pond to what it is now.

He said the club meant a lot to him as it was there they had played against Chinese Recreational Club in the finals of the FA Cup B division in 1960s.

“I have seen how they had built this club slowly and would like to see the issue resolved,” he added.

For teacher Crystal Chang, 29, the club was like her second home and a place she grew up with her family.

“I remember coming to the club and playing games with my brothers and cousins.

“Now my students use this place for their concert, games and activities. It would mean a lot if the club gets its land title, so my students and the future generation can have a place for recreation,” she said.

Chang said she was disappointed with the delay in the public hearing.

UKRC past president Ten Foong Kong still remembers how they were fighting to obtain the land title for the people.

“We were excited about the public hearing but after five months, everything is still in limbo.

“I can’t understand why they are dragging this matter and hoped that the process would be speeded up,” he said.

UKRC president Andrew Gopal said the whole matter surrounding the public hearing was a question mark.

He said they had waited for 54 years for the land title and hoped it would be resolved soon.

The 2.1ha land was allocated to the club in July 1958 to be used for a football field and clubhouse.

A sum of RM690 was paid to the surveyors on Aug 20, 1958.

The land office did not gazette the land at the time, which led to the issue being dragged on for so many years.