AFTER almost a decade, the Ulu Kelang Recreation Club (UKRC) has succeeded in its bid to reclaim management of the football field in Ampang from the local authority.
In 2013, the Selangor government decided to place the field in Kuala Ampang under the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council’s (MPAJ) jurisdiction in a move that drew widespread condemnation.
Former UKRC president Andrew Gopal said the state government reinstated the club’s rights to its football field on Feb 9 last year.
He described this as a win for the people of Selangor as well as club members.
“The field and club were entirely managed and funded by members and volunteers for almost 60 years.
“We were forced to hand over the field to MPAJ in 2013 when it was still in good playing condition.
“Since then the condition of the field has deteriorated and usage has dropped due to poor maintenance,” he said at a press conference on Thursday (Jan 12) to announce the news.
On Oct 1, 2013, MPAJ took over the management of the field as well as the basketball court and the empty areas around the field.
With the takeover, the field was renamed the Kuala Ampang MPAJ field.
Only the clubhouse remained under UKRC.
Andrew said the state returned the rights to UKRC after taking into consideration that the club had obtained land approval to maintain the facilities in 1958.
“We met Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari early last year and he was receptive to our appeals and noted our good track record.
“The Selangor executive council also approved our appeal to allow UKRC to have control of the field and clubhouse,” he said, while acknowledging that the land still belonged to the state.
Andrew said as there was a matter filed in court against the state and MPAJ, UKRC’s lawyers had to work with Selangor's legal team to file a consent order and withdraw the case in order for UKRC to get the field back.
The process was completed on Oct 14 last year with UKRC taking charge of the field on Nov 1.
The field has now reverted to its former name of the Ulu Kelang Recreation Club Field.
“The state is in the process of amending the gazette for the field to be managed by UKRC,” said Andrew.
He said the club’s first order of business would be to restore the field to playing condition and upgrade the clubhouse.
“UKRC’s plans will be announced in due course by current president Brendan Lee.
“We hope to complete the upgrading works in three months,” he said.
