“7,532 people witnessed a South African victory.” That’s the highest recorded attendance for a cricket match in Malaysia. We are standing in front of the PKNS Sports Complex. It is a multi-purpose sports facility in Kelana Jaya. You may also hear it called Kompleks Sukan PKNS.
The PKNS Sports Complex is owned by the Selangor State Development Corporation. It is near the MBPJ Stadium. This complex has seen its share of sporting history.
Its story began in 1991. That year, the ground hosted a Saudara Cup match between Malaysia and Singapore. Cricket took center stage here early on.
Then came 1997. The PKNS Sports Complex hosted ten ICC Trophy matches. A year later, in 1998, the complex hosted its first List A match. Australia played Canada as part of the Commonwealth Games cricket competition. Six further List A matches were played here. The final match saw Australia versus South Africa.
That final match in 1998 created a record. As I said earlier, 7,532 people watched South Africa win. That remains the highest attendance for a cricket match in Malaysia.
But the story does not end there. In 2012, plans emerged. The land might be used for commercial development. This sparked some controversy.
Selangor State Development Corp defended its plans. They envisioned the land for commercial use. The 7.5-hectare site had commercial titles. The corporation had been paying commercial rates since 1998.
The project included serviced apartments. There were plans for office spaces, a shopping mall, and a hotel. A performing arts center was also in the works.
The Petaling Jaya Municipal Council zoned the field as commercial. However, the Selangor Town and Country Planning Department zoned it as recreational. This zoning dispute added complexity.
The Selangor state legislative assembly investigated. The Appeals Board would determine the zoning. The Selangor State Development Corp stated they would abide by the decision.
The corporation anticipated significant earnings from the redevelopment. They planned to use the money to subsidize affordable housing. They aimed to balance the residents’ interests with their responsibility.
Let’s talk about tennis here at the PKNS Sports Complex. There are tennis courts here. If you want to book them, call 017-682 0620. Ask for Nizam. The courts are inside the complex. You will also find a football field and a badminton hall.
Some say the tennis court lighting is excellent. Two of the five courts are newer and in good condition. The other three are rougher. The location of the courts is not ideal. They sit beside the busy Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong highway. Heavy traffic affects the air quality. Dust accumulates on the courts. Loud cars can interrupt play. Some fences have holes. Balls can fly out of the court. Despite these issues, the courts are easier to book than others.
The PKNS Sports Complex holds memories of sporting glory. It faced potential redevelopment. It is a place where sport and life intertwine.