The Save our Open Space (SOS) group has called on the new state government to stop the conversion of a 2ha open space within a sea reclamation site near Kota Kinabalu into a commercial luxury condominium.
SOS coordinators SM Muthu and Jefferu Chang explained that the site had been reserved for a public park as a requirement for the development of a 1994 resort and hotel development project, reported The Star.
However, former chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman allowed the reserve land to be gazetted for commercial luxury condominium on 19 May 2016, said Muthu.
With this, they urge Kota Kinabalu City Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai to brief the new state government of the public park’s position as part of the open space facing the seafront and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal to reverse the action of the previous government.
The SOS group, which has been campaigning for the Tanjung Aru Eco-Development (TAED) project’s cancellation, feared that the former government may have converted more park areas in the city.
Gazetted public areas that had been converted into commercial areas in 2014 included the 35ha Tanjung Aru Beach foreshore reserve, revealed Chang.
“This is unethical, whatever the legal avenues used. The assets of a state or nation belong to all its citizens. And one of the primary objectives of any government is to protect their assets from unscrupulous people,” he said.
Shafie has put the Tanjung Aru development project on hold as the state government is yet to decide on whether to scrap or reduce the project’s scope.
“We also urge the chief minister to look into all other gazetted public and park areas, and in all other localities that have been converted for reasons known only to the previous decision makers.”
He noted that the “stress of modern life requires more gardens and parks for relaxation”. And given the growing population, the state government should look at creating more open spaces and recreational areas.
“Development doesn’t only mean building more commercial and luxury structures, but it is the ability of the government to provide parks and spaces for its citizens for recreational activities.”
Image sourced from The Star Online
This article was edited by the editorial team of PropertyGuru. To contact them about this or other stories email editorialteam@propertyguru.com.my
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