By: Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
IPOH: The Tuanku Zara Aquatic Centre, which is supposed to be a safe recreational venue for families, has allegedly been plagued by various worrying defects in several safety areas believed to have been poorly maintained.
Recently, Ipoh Echo/Peraktastic received a complaint from an Ipoh resident, who requested anonymity and claimed to be a regular visitor to the swimming pool there.
According to the complainant, one of the most obvious issues is the missing Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) drainage grating, a hard and durable plastic drain cover installed around the edges of the swimming pools.
The complainant said several sections of the grating were missing, and only safety cones had been placed as a precautionary measure.
“More disappointing is that although some parts have been replaced, the new grating installed does not follow the original specifications. The original grating had four pin joints, while the replacement only has three joints. The difference is very noticeable,” the complainant said.
The complainant alleged that the condition had already caused several minor injuries involving children and adults who fell after stepping on areas without the drainage grating.
“This is very dangerous, especially in the children’s pool and adult pool areas, which are frequently used by the public,” the complainant added.
The Tuanku Zara Aquatic Centre is under the management and responsibility of the Ipoh City Council (MBI).
Previously, the facility was known as the MBI Swimming Complex before being upgraded and renamed the Tuanku Zara Aquatic Centre.
In addition, the complainant also alleged that several tiles were loose and had come out of their original positions, posing a slipping hazard or risk of injury to users.
The handrails on the ladder at the main pool were also allegedly missing after previously being seen in a damaged condition.
Adding to that, other facilities, such as locker keys in the men’s section, were unavailable, reportedly because previous borrowers had failed to return them.
The complainant also claimed that several shower heads were missing, while loose pipes had yet to be repaired.
“I personally bought and donated shower heads to solve the problem,” the complainant said.
Most worrying, the complainant said cracks had appeared on the ceiling above the public seating area, which could become dangerous if the condition worsens.
“If the cracks grow larger and collapse, they could hit members of the public seated below,” the complainant said.
The complainant urged the local authorities to take immediate action before any accident or untoward incident occurs, especially as the facility is often visited by parents with their children.
