KK waterfront project to affect markets

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KOTA KINABALU: The fruit market, night market and the Filipino handicraft market at the Kota Kinabalu City waterfront are the areas under phase two of the Kota Kinabalu Waterfront Development (KKWD) project to be undertaken by City Hall, according to Luyang assemblyman Hiew King Cheu.

Phase one of the KKWD project has been completed, he said, adding that the SAFMA fishing boat jetty and its facilities would be relocated to a more suitable site to continue its operations in the near future.

The Kota Kinabalu fish market and the central market will stop operations when they are no longer comparable and suitable to the surrounding development in the area, he said in a statement yesterday.

Hiew said this was the reply from the Chief Minister’s Department on November 10 to his question during the last State Assembly sitting.

He had asked whether the Kota Kinabalu Waterfront Development would affect the present businesses along the KK City waterfront and whether these facilities would be relocated.

Many people feel that this prime area along the waterfront should be beautified to allow Kota Kinabalu City to receive a modern waterfront look like many other countries in the world.

The stretch of waterfront behind the Hyatt Regency Kinabalu has been upgraded and a lot of people like to spend time there. The other stretch in front of the new Oceanus Mall, the Anjung Senja and the Beach Club is already completed with a boardwalk and beautification works.

Hiew said works on KKWD phase two would eventually remove the markets for development and expressed his hope that the authorities would ensure proper arrangement would be made to relocate the traders.