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“UKRC, back in action for good”
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| What the UKRC field used to be |
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| The deplorable condition of the field presently |
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| Work to restore the field to its previous condition has began |
UKRC’s long battle (since April 1999) with the Selangor State Government has come to a good end with the Selangor State Government reinstating UKRC’s rights to its green lung (football field and clubhouse) on 9 February 2022, after taking into consideration that UKRC had earlier obtained the land approval from the Selangor State government on 12 July 1958 for a playing field and club house and that UKRC has spent huge amount of money in maintaining the said green lung for about 55 years (since 1958 to 30th September 2013) for its members and public.
However, as there was an appeal filed in court by UKRC against Selangor State Government and Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ), UKRC lawyers had to work with the Selangor State legal team to file a Consent Order pursuant to the decision made on 9th February 2022 by the Selangor Government and also to withdraw the pending appeal, in order for UKRC to take back its field. The said process was completed on 14 October 2022 with the Consent Order being extracted from court.
Thereafter, MPAJ was given notice by UKRC lawyers to vacate the field on or before 31 October 2022 and UKRC took charge of the field on 1st November 2022.
Today at the Press Conference to announce the long awaited good news, UKRC thanked the Selangor State Government, in particular the Selangor Menteri Besar, Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari and the State EXCO members, to unanimously agreeing to resolve the UKRC land issue which had been ongoing for the past 22 years, with number of attempts made by the previous Selangor government to develop the UKRC land.
UKRC also thanked club lawyers, B.Thangaraj and Ramesh Kanapathy in their role to manage the case successfully to resolve this long painful battle of UKRC with the Selangor government.
Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ) had seized the UKRC field on 1st October 2013, after being instructed by the then Selangor Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, whom had been misled by former members of UKRC, who were making attempts to take over the management of UKRC, including making reports to ROS to de-register UKRC, vandalising the club property, throwing red paint at the president’s house (on 13.11.2012 and 03.03.2013) and acid at club treasurer’s car on 10.03.2013.
Police reports on the said incidents were made by the club President (Andrew Gopal) and club treasurer (Yong Cheng Soon) but the case was not pursued further.
While UKRC was seeking justice through the Court, UKRC appealed to the Menteri Besar of Selangor, Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari on 26 February 2021 to get back its green lung and the said appeal was tabled and approved in the Selangor EXCO meeting on 9 February 2022.
Andrew, who has been president of UKRC for the last 22 years, also announced that he has relinquished the post, as it is about time someone younger takes over and also that he has completed his task to win the battle to get back the ownership of the club which has been in existence since 1958.
“It was been a long and hard battle to get back the rightful status of this community based club and we have finally achieved. It has been a tiring battle and now that the battle has been won, it is time I take a rest,” said Andrew.
“We had our biennial General Meeting on Dec 16 and we have elected Brendan Lee Chun Mun as our new president,” announced Andrew.
Brendan Lee is the son of Lee Paw Koi affectionately known as ‘Uncle Lee who was the club’s vice-president, its football groundsman, grasscutter, janitor and biggest cheerleader and a member of the club for 40 years.
‘Uncle Lee’, passed away in July, 2021 from Covid-19. He was 71.
“It is sad that Uncle Lee is not here today because he was pillar of this club who was passionate and spent most of his time in the club. He was devastated when the club was seized,” said Andrew paying tribute to Uncle Lee.
“It is fitting that his son now helms the club and he will continue his father’s legacy. I am leaving the club in good hands, but I will be around to give any advice if they need it.
“Today is a happy and sad day for me. Happy because we have finally won the long fought battle. Sad because Uncle Lee is not here to witness this historic moment. But I am happy that Brendan is here to carry on from what his father has left behind.”
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The deplorable condition of the club now which needs major repair |
CHRONOLOGY OF UKRC SAGA
1st Attempt - April 12 1999
The battle to save UKRC’s green lung (field and club
house) started as the Selangor State Government had
approved development of 10 bungalow lots a primary
school.
April 13- 16 December 1999 UKRC held various protest against the State
government to save its green lung through media
coverage and including submitting a memorandum with more than 1000 signatures from club members
and public.
February 18 2000 – UKRC was informed through a letter from Selangor
September 30, 2013 Economic Action Council (MTES) that MTES EXCO
has agreed keep the UKRC site as it is and to move the proposed primary school and bungalow lots to a
different site.
2nd Attempt - May 2003
UKRC President (Andrew Gopal) was approached
by a former FAM official to give up the UKRC green
lung for a developer to build 3 blocks of condominiums
and to accept an offer by the developer to built a
new football pitch and club house nearby UKRC and a
further offer of 2 condominium units to Andrew, as a President of UKRC.
May 2003
After the said attempt by the former official of FAM, UKRC discovered that the Selangor government (Khir
Toyo) had approved the UKRC’s green lung for
development of apartment to a local company headed
by the former FAM official and politicians.
May 2003
UKRC through media launched another round of
protest against the Selangor government and various
NGO’s were in support of UKRC.
September 2003
Former Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi
informs Selangor government to resolve the UKRC’s
amicably and to heed his directive to gazette all open
space.
October 2003
The scheduled project was scrapped after the
announcement by Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi
December 2, 2004 Khir Toyo gazetted UKRC’s land as a green lung under
the control of the Selangor State Secretary without any
discussion with UKRC after the proposed condominiums had to be cancelled.
3rd Attempt - April 1, 2011
A motion was tabled on 1st April 2011 in the Selangor State
Assembly by former Ulu Klang State Assemblyman, Saari
Sungib on UKRC land issue for the State to approve the land
to UKRC or to amend the Gazette issued by Khir Toyo in
order for UKRC to have control of its green lung.
Motion was approved unanimously in the State Assembly
on 1st April 2022.
April 10, 2012
Khalid Ibrahim /Selangor EXCO only approves the land where the club house is to UKRC and the football pitch to be maintained by MPAJ based on recommendation made by panel set up by Khalid Ibrahim to look into the UKRC land issue.
July 2012 –Dec 2012
Former associate members were seeking voting rights in the
Club AGM for year 2012 and their request were rejected by
the club Committee in accordance with the club rules and as
advised by ROS.
Disgruntled group not happy with the said decision and
worked with some former members of the club and public,
used the media to tarnish UKRC’s name with misleading
reports and evaded UKRC’s football pitch as if it was under
their Management.
Three club members were expelled on 01.01.2013 after the club
disciplinary committee found them for contravening the club
rules.
January 2013
UKRC places Security Guard to ensure the disgruntled group
does not cause further trouble by entering the club premises
and damage the pitch and club property.
August 21, 2013
Khalid Ibrahim makes a U-turn and decides in the State
EXCO meeting that the land where UKRC is situated has
been gazette as a green lung in year 2004 and is a State
Land.
Instructs MPAJ to take over the UKRC football pitch on 1st
October 2013.
October 1, 2013
MPAJ seizes 55 years old UKRC field.
October 14, 2013
UKRC through its lawyers M/S Thangaraj & Associates & M/S
Chellam & Wong files court action against the Selangor State
Government and MPAJ to get back its football pitch.
February 26, 2021
UKRC appeals to Selangor Menteri Besar Dato Seri Amirudin
Shari to reinstate UKRC’s right to its recreational land as the
football pitch was badly manage by MPAJ.
February 9, 2022
Selangor Menteri Besar, Dato Seri Amirudin Shari and the Selangor EXCO approves UKRC’s appeal to have control and manage its field and club house pursuant to the earlier approval obtained by UKRC on 12 July 1958 from the Selangor State Government.
September 23, 2022 UKRC withdraws its Civil Appeal in the Court of Appeal, Putrajaya.
31 October 2022
MPAJ vacates UKRC field, 1 maintenance staff and maintenance equipment of 1 Lawn Mover, I cabin store and 2 pairs of goal post.
November 1, 2022
UKRC back in action for good.
ARTICLES ON UKRC SAGA BY SCRIBE
https://level-field.blogspot.com/2009/09/ukrc-keeps-on-shining.html
https://level-field.blogspot.com/2010/10/unique-ukrc.html
https://level-field.blogspot.com/2014/11/what-crying-shame.html
https://level-field.blogspot.com/2016/10/field-of-contention.html
