No Urgent Need to Build New Sports Complex in Sungai Petani, Says National Extreme Sports Athlete

SUNGAI PETANI: National extreme sports athlete and Grand Slam explorer Datuk Muhamad Muqharabbin Mokhtarrudin has voiced strong opposition to the proposed construction of a new sports complex in Sungai Petani, calling it an unnecessary priority amid the country’s current financial constraints and ongoing challenges in elite sports performance.

In a media statement today, Muhamad Muqharabbin said the proposal, reportedly put forward by the newly appointed Minister of Youth and Sports who has been in office for only a week, reflects misplaced priorities at a time when Malaysia’s high-performance sports sector has yet to achieve its desired targets at the international level.

He stressed that national resources should not be channelled into non-urgent infrastructure projects, but instead be directed towards high-impact athlete development initiatives.

“Just because he is now a Member of Parliament who has become the Minister of Youth and Sports, it does not justify proposing the construction of everything in his own parliamentary constituency blindly and without stronger justification,” he said.

He further criticised what he described as the potential misuse of ministerial authority for personal or political interests, urging leaders to prioritise national and public interests above all else.

“Do not assume that holding ministerial office allows one to directly exercise power for self-interest without considering the broader interests of the people and the nation,” he added.

Muhamad Muqharabbin emphasised that limited national funds should instead be allocated to the development of Olympic and Commonwealth Games athletes, including intensive training programmes, international exposure, overseas training camps, access to world-class coaches, and comprehensive athlete welfare such as allowances, insurance, education and post-retirement career security.

“Based on my international experience, sporting success is not born from buildings alone, but from sustained investment in athletes, programmes and a comprehensive support system,” he said.

He also pointed out that many existing sports facilities across the country remain underutilised, arguing that upgrading and improving the management of current facilities would be far more cost-effective and yield quicker results than constructing new complexes.

“I would like to pose this question to the relevant authorities: Will the construction of a sports complex in Sungai Petani genuinely enhance national athletes’ performance and medal tally at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, or will it merely become a physical development project with no direct impact on sporting excellence?” he asked.

Muhamad Muqharabbin urged the Ministry of Youth and Sports to reassess national spending priorities and focus on direct investment in athletes and proven high-performance programmes.
“The development of athletes is the core of national sporting success, not the construction of buildings alone,” he said.