PRESS
RELEASE
IN
KOTA KINABALU, 3 FEBRUARY 1998
PBS:
DISCLOSE DETAILS OF AWARD OF SEAFRONT
KOTA
KINABALU, Wed. - Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) today called on the
State government to disclose the full details regarding the award
without tender of some 1,500 acres of state land comprising the
seafront from Sembulan to Teluk Likas to individuals and public
listed companies.
Its
deputy president Dr Maximus Ongkili said there has been widespread
public outcry against the senseless granting of such a massive area
of seafront which was done quietly and without following a proper
development plan.
"Thus
far the government has been evasive over the issue with even the
Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee pretending not to know anything
about the survey work and soil testing being done around the Likas
Bay area. It is public information that late last year the State
government approved the application by MLGH (Sabah) Sdn Bhd for
about 580 hectares of the capital's seafront purportedly for commercial
and tourism development.
"Most
of the land has since been sold to public listed companies and private
individuals in the name of joint-venture projects with MLGH Sdn
Bhd. How could the Chief Minister and the Minister of Local Government
and Housing say that they do not know anything about the matter?
Is this another "wayang kulit" act by the State government?", he
asked.
Dr
Ongkili claimed that the granting of such a massive area of land
was void of economic and environmental because there is no real
space problem for the Kota Kinabalu municipality and in view the
national economic downturn, adding that "many commercial complexes
in town are suffering from low business and office occupancy."
"The
subsequent development of some 1,500 acres of seafront will definitely
cause enormous environmental damages especially when the area infringes
part of the Tunku Abdul Rahman marine parks," he claimed.
According
to the Bandau member of parliament the proposed seafront development
involved some 500 acres in Sembulan near the Shangrila Tanjong Aru
Beach Resort (STAR) and Sembulan Resettlement Scheme area, some
500 acres in front of the KK Central Market and another 500 acres
in Teluk Likas.
He
claimed the approved area in Teluk Likas was now in process of being
sub-divided into some twenty individual lot titles.
Dr
Ongkili said Chief Minister Yong Teck Lee owes an explanation to
the people of Sabah regarding the massive land approval and urged
him to answer the following questions:
- Why
is the government unwilling to confirm the award of about 580
hectares of prime seafront to private individuals and companies
through MLGH Sdn Bhd?
- What
is the rationale for granting such massive area of seafront in
the name of commercial and tourism development without due consideration
to resulting environmental problems?
- Why
was the land given to private individuals and public listed companies
without tender, and the government has promised to tender sale
of all urban lands?
- Why
was a massive area of urban land given away to private individuals
and companies when there was no prior master plan made for the
development of the area?
- Why
was approval given to MLGH Sdn Bhd to acquire the land for a massive
coastal reclamation project when there was no Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) being carried out in the first instance?"
Dr Ongkili
said the State government must disclose the truth regarding the matter
and urged the BN State leaders to stop its continuing "act of pretense"
and be honest with the Sabah people for once.
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