A view of the stables on a hillock at the abandoned equine facility.

FUTSAL enthusiasts are in for a treat as Klang Municipal Council (MPK) has begun working on converting the abandoned equine facilities in Taman Sri Andalas into futsal courts.

This move comes at a time when football fever is expected to reach feverish pitch with the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup set to kick off in June.

Council president Datuk Mohamad Yasid Bidin has promised to revive the area with the aim of providing new recreational options.

“Adding some exciting competitive sport elements to the neighbouring recreational area of Taman Rakyat is important to give opportunities for teenagers to play futsal.

“With usage of private futsal courts at an all-time high, it is good to have public courts,” he said, adding that there was a need to have public futsal courts to provide opportunities for those who cannot afford the high fees charged by private facilities.

“MPK may charge a nominal fee just to regulate the use of the courts,” he said.

Mohamad Yasid (second from right) discussing construction points with MPK Quantity Supervisor Emil Shaqira Abdul Rahman (second from left) outside the paddock of the abandoned equine area in Taman Sri Andalas. Looking on are Zamri (right), Health Department director Azmi Muji (centre, behind) and Corporate Communications director Norfiza Mahfiz (left).

Mohamad Yasid told StarMetro the existing sand paddock area was being renovated for the courts, while the office building was being turned into quarters for the council staff who will be managing the two futsal courts.

“The parks we currently have are not built for fast-paced sports.

“With this area available, we have to be creative to design new features to fulfil this need,” he said, adding that MPK was also mulling residents’ proposal to build netball and basketball courts at the site of the stables.

The elevated land on the other side of the futsal court could be turned into a football pitch and these facilities would be an asset for the people as well as the council, Mohamad Yasid said.

MPK Engineering Department director Zamri Othman said the cost of the futsal courts, quarters for the staff, new fencing and other refurbishments was estimated to come up to RM340,000.

This move is a welcome one after many years of controversies surrounding the abandoned equine facility.

Construction work to turn the council’s former horse stable in Taman Sri Andalas into futsal courts is in progress. — Photos: SYAZANA ABD SHUKUR/The Star

In 2008, MPK closed down its horse unit set up under the Enforcement Department because it was too costly to pay the RM600,000 required annually for the maintenance of the eight horses and 18 staff members under the unit.

It was reported that RM1.4mil was spent on building a sand and grass paddock, 16 stables, four stores and other materials for the care of the horses and MPK had spent close to RM3mil for the mounted squad over a five-year period.

In March 2015, MPK councillor Kamal Batcha Noor Mohideen proposed that the abandoned equine facilities be turned into an outdoor wedding venue, but the suggestion did not go down well with residents as they felt it would increase the volume of traffic and result in haphazard parking during events.

Some were also of the opinion that the garden wedding venue was a waste of funds.