PUCHONG – The Kinrara Oval in Puchong, once a bustling hub for Malaysian cricket, now faces an uncertain future with its more than 6-ha site likely to be developed into a Chinese school or a condominium in the coming years.
The former home of Malaysian cricket, previously managed by the Malaysian Cricket Association (MCA), has been abandoned for over two years.
Once a venue for international tournaments and local cricket programmes, the facility is now overgrown with fauna – resembling a mini forest – with vegetation sprawling across its RM10 million property.
Checks by Scoop revealed that the oval, recognised by the International Cricket Council (ICC), is heavily guarded by SP Setia Bhd personnel with prominent signs warning trespassers of prosecution.
Residents of Kinrara expressed disappointment over the site’s abandonment. Local resident Justina Chong lamented the loss of security and vibrancy the oval once brought to the neighbourhood.
“This place was a landmark, always alive with activity. The floodlights used to shine brightly at night, illuminating not only the oval but also the entire street,” she said.
“Now, it feels eerily dark, and I’m genuinely concerned for my safety and my family when crossing the road. There are also reports of snakes roaming around.
“It would be wonderful to see the oval restored to its former vibrancy, bringing light back to the area and making it less abandoned and unsafe.
“Reviving the oval wouldn’t only restore the energy of this place but also give the community a sense of peace and belonging once again,” said Justina when contacted.
For cricket enthusiasts, the closure has been equally devastating. Arvin Loganathan, a passionate cricketer, highlighted the challenges faced by local clubs and players who now travel far for proper facilities.
“Kinrara Oval wasn’t just a field – it was a home to many passionate cricket players. The absence of the oval has significantly impacted the local players, leaving them without a proper venue to practice and play.
“Now, they are forced to train on football fields, which isn’t ideal for the sport.
“Playing at the oval offered a unique experience, one that can’t be replicated anywhere else. One of my friends, whose children play the sport, told me they now have to drive all the way to SSU Kelab Aman just to play cricket.
“The loss of the oval has not only taken away a place to play but has also diminished the sense of community within the cricket clubs in Kinrara,” said Arvin.
Joseph Wang, a member of the Kinrara Residents’ Council, said that the land is likely to be sold for development soon.
“There’s strong interest from several developers for either a condominium or a Chinese school.
“Any development in this area will certainly benefit the community, but it’s disheartening to see the loss of such an iconic landmark. Its presence was a defining part of our neighbourhood, and its absence leaves a noticeable void.
“While the future of the site is still uncertain, we’ve been told that construction will likely begin by mid-year. It’s a bittersweet prospect, as we understand progress is important, but it’s hard not to feel the loss of a cherished community space,” said Joseph.
Meanwhile, MCA president Mohammed Iqbal Ali Kassim expressed regret over the oval’s current state, reflecting on its significance to Malaysian cricket.
“We have many great memories at Kinrara Oval, including the hosting of several successful tournaments there over the years,” he told Scoop, urging greater government support for national sports bodies to secure proper home grounds.
The oval’s decline traces back to 2022 when landowner Perumahan Kinrara Berhad (PKB) ordered MCA to vacate due to unpaid assessment fees exceeding RM1.8 million.
PKB had covered these annual fees – estimated at RM200,000 – for several years to the state government but eventually sought legal action to recover costs.
The company obtained an order from the high court in Shah Alam in March 2022 to auction various items belonging to MCA as the first step towards recovering its funds.
MCA first leased the oval in 2003 under a 15-year agreement with PKB – a joint venture company between I&P Group Sdn Bhd, Armed Forces Fund Board, and Lembaga Tabung Haji.
In 2019, the home of Malaysian cricket was saved from closure when the government intervened to prevent PKB from ousting MCA from the facility.
Then youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said that the cabinet decided that “preserving the cricket ground was more important than pursuing commercial development.”
MCA was granted a two-year extension on the lease with a reminder that the use of the land, from the beginning, was only temporary as it had always been earmarked for development.
PKB, also a subsidiary of property development company I&P Group Sdn Bhd – wholly owned by SP Setia Bhd – had long wanted the prime land, west of Kuala Lumpur, for a commercial project.
Currently, MCA rents the facility at Bayuemas Cricket Oval in Klang to conduct its tournaments and programmes.
The Kinrara Oval, with a 4,000-spectator capacity, hosted several iconic moments in cricket history.
It saw Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar score a sparkling 141 against the West Indies in 2006, and a young Virat Kohli led India to the Under-19 World Cup title in 2008.
It also hosted matches featuring Australia and the West Indies and served as the venue for cricket’s debut at the SEA Games in 2017. – January 29, 2025