Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) has welcomed the approval of an allocation of RM 7 million for the refurbishment of the Velodrome Rakyat.
Its Vice Presient, Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill, who is also the President of Perak Cycling Association (PCA) expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Khairy Jamaluddin for approving this special allocation of funds for the repair of Velodrome Rakyat.
He also thanked the Menteri Besar of Perak, Datuk Seri Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir and the Perak Exco Member in charge of Sports, Datuk Shahrul Yahya for their full commitment and support towards PCA during this period.
It was reported in a Malay daily that RM 7 million has been allocated to repair and replace the Velodrome Rakyat track . This was announced by the Menteri Besar of Perak after launching the Fit Malaysia programme which was held in Ipoh on Sunday.
Prior to that, a clarion call was made by the PCA President to the Sports Minister and to the Perak State Government for their help in repairing the Velodrome Rakyat timber track which was in a deplorable condition due to the harsh weather. Khairy later said that funds were being requested from the 11th Malaysia Plan.
“PCA will work with the relevant authorities including JKR to give all the necessary technical assistance during the construction of the new track’, said Amarjit, who is an Ipoh-based lawyer.
“Regardless of whether the new track will be made of timber or concrete, the bottom line is that track cycling is being revived in the Silver State of Perak,” he added.
He also said that a committee will be set up to ensure that Velodrome Rakyat is fully utilized, with plans of organizing a month track competition in the pipeline.
Velodrome Rakyat was the first Velodrome in the country built from public donation drive in 1986 by Tan Sri Darshan Singh who was the President of PCA then with the blessings of the Late Sultan Azlan Shah.
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