The Youth and Sports Ministry never intended to build a full blown sports complex for the proposed High Performance Training Centre (HTPC) in England for RM490 million as claimed.

According to Bernama , the National Sports Council (NSC) said a feasibility study on the matter estimated that the complex would cost 65 million pounds (about RM455 million).

Since the ministry had no intention of building a complete sports complex in Brickendonbury, the study and the costing had been dismissed, the NSC said.

In fact, it added, the16-ha (40 acre) Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre (TARRC) which has facilities such as an administrative building, laboratory, staff quarters, canteen and kitchen facilities, a football field, a 10m swimming pool and a cricket oval was intended to be a hub and forwarding base for Malaysian athletes.

The plan to turn the centre into a sports hub got took off following the approval from the Cabinet Committee for Sports Development, whose members include 15 cabinet ministers, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Wrong figures

As directed by the Cabinet, the NSC was instructed to explore the possibility of co-existence with the current occupants - TARRC with consultation with the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB).

Thus, the figure of RM490 million for the HTPC as quoted widely in the media was absolutely wrong and highly speculative, said NSC.

"When the idea was mooted, we had taken into account that long-term overseas stints by athletes under foreign expertise had no doubt brought success at the highest level."

World number two Nicol David, Ong Beng Hee, Azlan Iskandar (squash), Ng Shu Wai (gymnastics), Josiah Ng (cycling), Ben Leong (golf), Lim Keng Liat (swimming) and Noraseela Mohd Khalid (athletics) are a few names who have benefitted after being based in Europe.

The statement said the NSC spent RM6.4 million for overseas training and competitions in 1999, RM6.9 million (2000), RM7.6 million (2001), RM7.6 million (2002), RM6.1 million (2003), RM8.2 million (2004) and RM9.5 million last year.

"We feel that the availability of a centre situated in Europe, can reduce expenditure for overseas training whilst offering more athletes to experience such stints over a period of time.

"The cost of engaging foreign coaches and bringing them to Malaysia can also be minimised while providing more high level competitions for our athletes," said NSC.

It added that the overall benefits for Malaysian sports to move to a new level and long term benefits far outweighed whatever criticism levelled on such a noble and innovative idea.