KUCHING: Miri MP Dr Michael Teo has no regret in seeking judicial intervention to stop the removal of car parks to make way for a highway through the busy Miri Waterfront Commercial Centre at Jalan Sri Dagang despite the setback.
Yesterday, Miri High Court dismissed the judicial review application filed by Dr Teo and eight other registered proprietors, tenants and business owners who have an interest in the shophouses at Miri Waterfront Commercial Centre.
In dismissing the case after ruling that there was no merit in the application, Judicial Commissioner Datuk Mairin Idang ordered the applicants to pay cost of RM15,000 to Miri City Council (as first respondent), director of Land and Survey Sarawak (as second respondent), State Planning Authority (third respondent) and the Government of Sarawak (fourth respondent) and RM15,000 to fifth respondent Pantai Bayu Indah, the developer.
Dr Teo, who is state PKR treasurer, said even though the decision was adverse and the cost awarded against all of them was hefty, he did not regret taking the matter to Court.
He believed that in his capacity as an elected MP, it was his sacred duty and responsibility to voice out the grievances of the people in Miri, and when deemed necessary as in this case, to commence legal proceedings to seek adjudication and safeguard public interests.
“I am most concerned with the safety of the folks who will be visiting the busy commercial centre which consists of six medical clinics, four banks and numerous restaurants and coffee shops.
“With a highway cutting through the commercial centre will not only be onerous to the shop owners, business operators and visitors to cross Jalan Sri Dagang, it is also hazardous and put their lives at risk.”
Dr Teo said he maintained his opinion that there were enough highways and carriageways, including Jalan Sri Dagang, as it is for access to the Marina Park City Centre.
He further said he was still awaiting the written judgement and grounds before deciding whether to appeal the decision.
“My lawyers have notified me of the Miri High Court’s decision dismissing our application for judicial review yesterday. I understand that though the learned Judicial Commissioner had pronounced his decision to dismiss our application yesterday, he has yet to deliver his judgment and grounds for his decision.
“We have instructed our lawyers to write to the Honourable Court to request for written judgement and grounds of the decision. We will then seek legal opinions, discuss and decide whether we may appeal against the decision,” he said in a press statement yesterday.
He also hoped that the chief minister will look into this matter for the safety and well-being of the people.
“I certainly hope that the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem will take heed of the matter and show that he is as concerned, if not more, with the safety and well-being of human lives, as much as the state’s development projects.
“I appeal to him to instruct the State Planning Authority to reconsider the decision in approving the removal of the car parks to make way for a highway to run through this busy Waterfront Commercial Centre.”