KUALA LUMPUR: The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) is hoping to see its new headquarters in Bukit Jalil completed before the 2027 Malaysia Sea Games is held.
OCM secretary-general Datuk Nazifuddin Najib said a plot of land next to the National Hockey Stadium has already been confirmed for the new building.
"The location has been confirmed in Bukit Jalil. It is roughly five acres and will be leased from the Malaysia Stadium Corporation (MSC)," said Nazifuddin today (Dec 28).
"We will do a swap with (developer) Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB) where they will take our building and land (Wisma OCM) and in return they will build us our new headquarters.
"We hope it can be completed before the 2027 Sea Games but it will be a bit challenging as we do not know the actual dates for the Sea Games yet. Regardless, we have to start soon.
"The details of the land lease have already been discussed and we are now just waiting for the cabinet to approve it.
"Once we are able to lease it and have made payment, we can then handover the land to MRCB to begin construction work."
Nazifuddin added that the new OCM building is expected to take up 2 acres, while the rest of the land will be used for parking and other facilities.
Wisma OCM, situated on a 1.8 acre plot on Jalan Hang Jebat, Kuala Lumpur has been the umbrella body's headquarters since 1991.
The area, which also features Stadium Negara and Stadium Merdeka, used to be a hub for Malaysian sports, similar to what Bukit Jalil is today, but has since become congested due to new developments.
OCM president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria first announced their plans to shift in 2021.