KOTA KINABALU: Developments should be based on proper guidelines, not contractor-driven, said caretaker Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie Apdal.
He said proper planning and guidelines must be in place for developments in order to maintain the beauty of the city.
For instance, Shafie said the mixture of shops, houses, church and car dealers from Likas to Tuaran lacked proper guideline.
“There must be proper guideline to the people, irrespective of who they are. Developments cannot be contractor-driven.”
He said developments could not be simply approved just because the person has ‘the right link at the top’.
Shafie said that when launching the Kota Kinabalu Landscape Beautification Blueprint (2021-2025) at Taman Chong Thien Vun here yesterday.
The blueprint included proposals to upgrade and beautify the city centre, upgrade and develop public parks, beautify smaller townships, building archways at the main gateways into the city and beautify the main roads.
He said the blueprint outlined the development agendas to improve the beauty, cleanliness and comfort of the city to the benefit of the residents and tourists.
He said the blueprint did not only include improvements in the landscape to attract visitors, but also facilities that benefitted locals and opportunities for small businesses.
Shafie said Kota Kinabalu was a beautiful city that could not be found anywhere else in Malaysia due to its location facing the South China Sea, which the city should take advantage of.
He said a Korean investor had planned to develop cable car service from Kota Kinabalu to Pulau Gaya last year but the plan was put on hold due to the political situation.
Besides proper planning to ensure the beauty of the city, he said the people, especially children, must be educated on keeping the environment clean and refrain from littering.
“Kota Kinabalu is a beautiful city, but its beauty depends on how we manage it.”
On another note, Shafie said traffic congestion in the city could not be solved with building more flyovers or widening the roads alone.
He said the traffic entering the city should be managed to reduce congestion.
For example, he suggested implementing a schedule for vehicles delivering fresh produce from Ranau or Keningau to Kota Kinabalu, such not allowing them to enter the city after a certain time in the morning.
He said this would avoid traffic congestion caused by lorries or trucks carrying vegetables and motorists who wanted to do shopping at the centre.
Shafie also lamented at the poor public transportation system in Kota Kinabalu.
“Public transportation should be embedded in the planning to discourage vehicles from coming into the city.
He said there must be proper public transportation system in Kota Kinabalu for the locals and tourists.
Under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP), the State Government has channeled RM6 million to the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) for beautification projects.
Under the 12MP (2021-2025), the State Government will allocate RM9.7 million, an increase of RM3.7 million, to continue the implementation of the beautification projects in the city.
The RM9.7 million is allocated for 15 projects, including upgrading works on Segama Waterfront, Taman Chong Thien Vun, Ujana Rimba Public Park, Tun Fuad Recreation Park facilities; landscape beautification project on main roads; landscape development projects at Tanjung Aru town and Lido Kepayan; development projects at Inanam, Sepanggar and Telipok; replacing children playground equipment in housing estates; development project at the Tanjung Aru First Beach Public Park; Lost Lagoon development project at Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens; and upgrading the Likas Plant Nursery.
Also present at the launching were incumbent Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Christina Liew, Kota Kinabalu Member of Parliament Chan Foong Hin, incumbent Likas assemblyman Tan Lee Fatt and Mayor Datuk Nordin Siman.