PM Anwar Wants Olympic House To Be Completed Early

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants the new Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) headquarters, dubbed Olympic House, to be completed ahead of its 2028 schedule.

Anwar said he was thrilled by the project being developed by Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB) at the Kuala Lumpur Sports City in Bukit Jalil here.

He hailed the leadership of OCM president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria, who has worked hard to ensure the Olympic House is in place.

“I think it is a progression because once you place more than 50 organisations under one roof, they must interact ... give ideas, suggestions and criticisms so that sports performance can be further enhanced,” he said in his speech during the groundbreaking ceremony of Olympic House here today.

Also present was Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh. 

Linking the project to the Malaysia MADANI vision, Anwar said the Olympic House represents more than just infrastructure as it reflects a commitment to empowering the rakyat, especially youths.

“One particularly important facet is certainly the need to ensure that the best, the general masses, not only the small elite, are involved in every sport known in the country and new avenues where we can continue to expand, promote and encourage, particularly the young.

“I am quite excited with this project and with these sports activities because I am clearly in no position to encourage or to suggest any other facet of activity that can really get Malaysians of all races and creeds together with this spirit of just wanting to succeed as one,” he said.

The Olympic House, with a gross floor area of 140,973 square feet, will bring together 58 national sports associations under one roof to foster closer collaboration and enhance governance in sports management. 

It will feature modern amenities, including an auditorium, resource centre, gymnasium, museum, gallery, cafe and surau.

The building will also boast solar-powered signage, smart lighting, rainwater harvesting, natural ventilation and low-energy fixtures.

The 5.38-acre facility will replace the Wisma OCM, which was built in 1991 near the iconic Stadium Merdeka.

Anwar also gave an assurance that the government will continue to monitor and support OCM as long as they take special efforts to improve governance.

He said this is to ensure that benefits do not go to the council or the board members but sportsmen and sportswomen, particularly young athletes who aspire to contribute more to the country.

Anwar also said he had discussed with Hannah to revisit the country’s sports school system and other key institutions to ensure quality, facilities and athlete development continue to improve.

-- BERNAMA