Malaysia's plan to modify a building on the outskirts of London to house a multi-million 'sports excellence academy' will be subject to approval by the British government.

This is because the location chosen - the Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre (Tarcc) in Hertfordshire, built in 1949 - is a controlled heritage building, said Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Peter Chin.

"We would like to see the research facility being used entirely. We have a big field which is not made use of. We don't need the whole lot for research purposes," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

"But all this (plan to modify the building) is subject to the British authorities, we are in a different country."

The Tarrc is owned by the Malaysian Rubber Board which is under the purview of his ministry.

Chin said his ministry would work with the relevant government agencies to implement the project, which has received a cabinet committee's agreement in principle.

Earlier, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Liow Tiong Lai told reporters that the setting up of the academy will not involve the construction of a new building.

"The building is all there, it is only upgrading," he said, adding that the facilities include a swimming pool, tennis court, football field and a green lung on the 18ha site.

To a question, Liow said the academy will be a government project but said the cost is still being studied. No time frame has been fixed for the study to be completed.

He denied that the project will be a waste of money, saying he believed the returns would be high from the investment in the sports academy.

On reported claims that the project was being actively promoted by one Muralee Menon, said to have close ties with Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, Liow replied: "This is all speculation that we don't need to answer."

'Nurture talent locally'

Earlier in the Dewan Rakyat during the Question session, Mohamed Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) queried the need for the project.

"If we give RM1 million to each kampung (village), we can get champion(s)," he said.

Responding, Liow said the proposed academy is still under study and that the cost had not been finalised as yet.

In late May, The Straits Times ( ST ) of Singapore, quoting unnamed Malaysian government sources, reported that the academy could be built in Hertfordshire and could cost RM490 million.

The Tarrc was named after Najib's late father, who was Malaysia's second prime minister.

In a parliamentary written reply yesterday, Youth and Sports Minister Azalina Othman Said confirmed that a cabinet committee chaired by Najib has given the go ahead for the project.

She said the main purpose in setting up the academy in Europe is to allow Malaysian athletes and national teams to adapt to the cold weather, as well as part of a strategy to make Malaysian athletes closer to countries that excel in sports to experience the "technology and expertise".

She confirmed that the Tarrc site had been identified as the ideal location because it was government-owned property near London, and that it would serve as a gateway to European countries.

"The academy is located near the 2012 London Olympic Village and we believe if we manage the academy well, we will get a return equal to our investment," she added in the reply.

The ST report had quoted several sports specialists and government officials as arguing that the project was too extravagant and that its maintenance would be a major drain on Malaysia's sports development budget.

They were also concerned over the lack of transparency over the project.