KUALA LUMPUR — The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) has emphasised that the upkeep and development of Velodrom Rakyat Ipoh is a shared responsibility between the federal and state governments, as well as the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF).
The ministry’s statement followed reports highlighting the deteriorating condition of the iconic cycling facility, raising safety concerns.
“Sports fall under the Concurrent List in the Federal Constitution,” KBS said.
“This means both the federal and state governments are jointly responsible for the development of sports and sports facilities.”
The ministry added that Velodrom Rakyat Ipoh, completed in 1989 on state-owned land, remains the property of the Perak state government under the Ipoh City Council (MBI).
“During the Malaysia Games (SUKMA) hosted in Perak in 2018, the federal government allocated RM12.7 million to upgrade the velodrome,” the statement said.
“This was in line with our shared responsibility to advance national sports development.”
KBS urged the state government and MNCF to play their part in maintaining the facility.
“We hope both parties will ensure the velodrome can continue to be utilised by athletes and the public, particularly in Perak,” the ministry said.
Earlier, MNCF warned that prolonged neglect of the velodrome could endanger cyclists.
“The current state of the Velodrom Rakyat is extremely disappointing. It is unsafe, dangerous, and has been out of operation for over a year,” MNCF president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill told Scoop when contacted.
Amarjit identified the absence of a roof as the primary cause of repeated damage to the wooden track, which remains exposed to rain and heat, posing a serious safety risk to cyclists.
He added that an opportunity to resolve the issue was missed during upgrade works in 2015, ahead of the 2018 Malaysian Games (SUKMA), when a proposal to install a roof was ignored.
“If a small budget had been allocated at that time, this problem would not have persisted. The National Velodrome in Nilai, by contrast, requires minimal maintenance even after 10 years because it is protected from the weather,” he added. — January 14, 2026