IPOH: Malaysia Games (Sukma) athletes stationed in Sekolah Izzuddin Shah (SIS) will be moved to Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Tapah because of the deplorable living conditions.
State Youth, Sports and Human Capital Development committee chairman Howard Lee Chuan How said as the host of this year’s Sukma, the organiser would like to apologise about the dissatisfaction of badminton athletes on the accommodation at SIS that was published in a daily English newspaper today.
Lee said SIS was chosen as an accommodation venue for Sukma for cricket, tenpin bowling and some of the badminton contingent including Sekolah Raja Perempuan Taayah after the withdrawal of Kolej Vokasional Ipoh.
“The reason for the withdrawal from Kolej Vokasional Ipoh as the official accommodation was due to overlapping learning schedule for this semester with the Sukma schedules. Kolej Vokasional has to shorten the semester’s break nationwide if they chose to become the official accommodation venue for Sukma.
“Those athletes who will be stationed in SIS will now be moved to UiTM Tapah which is more conducive and suitable for the Sukma athletes. The venue of accommodation in Tapah will be shared with weightlifting athletes,” he said in a press conference at Perak Sports Council here today.
Lee said that all additional cost such as logistics would be sponsored by the organiser as the distance from Tapah to Ipoh took about 45 minutes.
“So far I have received a report from Penang contingent and I personally contacted the contingent chief, Datuk Seri Farizan Darus, who is also Penang secretary. He understands our situation and both of us will meet tomorrow for a discussion.
“We do not want anything which can tarnish the state government’s name, Sukma secretariat and Sukma itself. The mistake is from our side and we will bare all the cost.
“To the contingent which has looked for other alternative such as homestay, we will negotiate with them to find a win-win solution,” he said.
Lee said the problem had occurred because the contractors responsible for the renovation work failed to do so and it was unacceptable.
“I am still investigating what happened but at the moment what is more important is not to point fingers at anyone but ensure everything runs smoothly. Priority must be given to our guests and their accommodation must be comfortable,” he said.
The daily today reported that several badminton teams walked out from the deplorable living conditions in hostels prepared for athletes at the Sukma.
Kedah, Penang and several other state badminton teams packed their bags, moved out of the hostels and checked into hotels yesterday as they claimed that the living environment was not conducive.
One of the athletes claimed there were no windows in some rooms, the fans were not working and the doors could not be locked.