The Sabah Sports Board (SSB) plans to upgrade the athletics track at the Penampang Stadium (PS) as the rubberised surface of the running lanes has become worn down, in places, and needs to be replaced.
The body also hopes to repair the amenities servicing the lake-side jogging track at the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex (KKSC) at a later date, including the public lighting and damaged sections of the walkway leading to the grounds.
A SSB spokesman said these separate endeavours would be undertaken, when it had the means to do so.
“We have applied for a special allocation from the Youth and Sports Ministry to deal with the problems at the track at the KKSC and intend to make a similar request for the one at the PS,” he said.
“The improvements at both properties will be made as soon as these funds have been approved.”
He was responding to separate feedback about the safety hazards at both tracks.
DAHRL of Penampang was taken aback by the poor condition of running lanes at the Stadium.
“I saw a video posted on social media recently about a school sports’ day which was held here,” he said.
“The section of the track at the starting block was full of what looked like potholes. One of the pupils apparently slipped and fell while competing in the 100 metre sprint event.”
Dahrl hoped the local authorities would attend to this problem before anyone else who used the track came to harm.
The spokesman said the damage seen in the footage was a sign of the wear and tear on the synthetic surface of the 400-metre track, which was way past its life span.
“The rubberised spray coat needs to be replaced every three to four years,” he said. “Parts of the track have become torn as the surface is way past its prime.”
He said some athletic coaches from among the local community “touched up” the damage on Monday to provide users with some temporary relief.
“This was done on a goodwill basis as the young charges in their care are due to participate in a district level inter-school sports competition at the end of the month.”
BERTHA of Likas, on the other hand, bemoaned the sorry state of the jogging track at the KKSC.
The Complex user was concerned about the safety hazards posed by the uneven surface of the track.
“Joggers could easily trip on the pavers which are bulging out of walkway leading to the track or sprain their ankles in those sections where the pavers are missing,” she said.
She said this situation was aggravated further as joggers might not be able to make out the danger spots due to the poor lighting at the track.
Bertha was also unhappy about the presence of several dead trees on the periphery of the track
“They ought to be removed as they make the area look less presentable.”
She shared her observations with a friend who was also frustrated about the lack of maintenance carried out at the track.
“My friend related his concerns in writing to the Ministry in August last year. He showed me a letter, which he received from the SSB in October.
“It was signed by a senior officer who assured him that the Board’s Engineering Section would be repairing, maintaining and improving conditions at the track. This work was supposed to be carried out in stages.”
Her friend was also informed in this correspondence that the body was looking at developing the area around the lake sited near the track, according to Roberta.
Bertha said more than six months had passed, with no repairs, maintenance and improvements made to the track.
“Me and my friend want to know why the SSB has not made good on its promise and when it intends to deal with the various problems at the track.”
She provided Hotline with copies of these letters, which were forwarded to the Board.
The spokesman said KKSC personnel went down to the track, shortly after being contacted by Hotline.
“They took note of the irregularities involving the pavers on the walkway, as well as the dead trees and problems with the illumination along the track,” he said.
“One of our technicians had the unwanted greenery removed several days later. A chain saw was used to facilitate this effort.”
