[2] Tan Sri Dato' Seri Darshan Singh Gill, President of the Perak Cycling Association, identified the need for a velodrome in the country.

Previously, the National Cycling Federation used to send track cyclists to neighbouring countries at a very high cost.

With the approval of Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak, Darshan led a nationwide public donation drive and collected RM 3.25 million for the project.

[citation needed] Velodrome Rakyat is a 250-metre timber track, and has hosted many national and international events, including the World Cycling Championships B in 1997, the Track World Cup in 2000 and 2001, and the cycling events of the 1989 Southeast Asian Games.

[4] In November 2024 through a press conference, the incumbent Minister of Youth and Sports, Hannah Yeoh mentioned on the need to visit the velodrome and potentially make funds available to upgrade the facility.