TARUC Is Looking To Build An E-Sports Arena On Its Setapak Campus

In a Facebook post yesterday, 18 February, TARUC announced that they are looking for an operator to set up an e-sports arena that spans 1,686 square feet, which is about the size of two badminton courts.

An e-sports arena is a space filled with computers where gaming tournaments are normally held.

"We invite those who are interested to submit their proposal which must include information of company profile, proposed usage per hour for a PC, photocopy of owner IC, company registration documents issued by Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (SSM), and any other relevant supporting documents," read the statement.

The deadline for submission of the proposal falls on 2 March. At the time of writing, the post has garnered over 800 likes and 320 shares.

"Time to stop studying," commented a netizen.

"It is time to go back to TARUC," said another person.

Another netizen said in jest, "They call it an e-sports arena because they want a good image, or else it would be called a cyber cafe."

Some netizens also asked if the tertiary education institution will introduce a gaming course in the future.

In September last year, E-sports Kuala Lumpur Association (ESKL) and the Federal Territory Sports Council announced their intention to introduce e-sports into the curriculum at all secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur, reported Bernama.

“Just like any other sports, we want our athletes to be knowledgeable and know the boundaries when it comes to e-sports," said ESKL president Hisham Darus.

"We want to bring about a wise approach with the do's and don'ts because most of them (students) played it in their own way and the parents could not control them.

"That's why they should be given the exposure and the importance of having an e-sports club in every secondary school."

In the past three years, both Genting Highlands and Axiata Arena hosted Dota 2 tournaments, namely ESL One and The KL Major.

Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) was also used to host the PMCO 2019 Fall Split Global Finals, a tournament for PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) Mobile, in November last year.

Additionally, Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman previously said in September 2018 that his ministry intended to build an e-sports arena to encourage the grassroots development of local players.