Ministry Will Pursue Plan To Set Up Badminton Academy - Ahmad Shabery

KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Youth and Sports will continue pursuing its hope of setting up an academy for badminton although two previous attempts to acquire land for the purpose had failed.

Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said since an allocation of RNM24 million has been set aside under the 10th Malaysia Plan, the setting up of the academy would continue.

"Our proposed plan is to combine the academies of badminton, cycling and a velodrome under one roof by building a 'Vision Valley' in Labu, Negeri Sembilan," he told reporters after visiting the Paralympics Sports Excellence Centre at the Kampung Pandan Sports Complex here Tuesday.

He said the 'Vision Valley' would be set up through a joint effort with a private company.

"However, the proposal is still under consideration and yet to be decided," he said.

In 2008, the ministry had identified a location at Taman Maluri, Cheras for the setting up of the proposed academy which was supposed to be an excellence centre for badminton.

However, the ministry had to forego the plan and a new 3.3 hectare site that belong to the Department of Environment (DOE) was identified in Jalan Cochrane, Cheras for the purpose.

DoE however, refused to release the land since it has been earmarked as prime property.

Source from BERNAMA