Did the Sabah government break its promise on land reclamation?

Question

Accepted Answer

Sabah Government Accused of Breaking Promise on Tanjung Aru Beach Reclamation

A non-governmental organisation, Save Open Space Kota Kinabalu, has criticised the Sabah government's decision to proceed with the extension of Tanjung Aru beach through land reclamation, alleging a broken promise. The group points to previous official statements indicating that the Tanjung Aru Eco Development (TAED) project would not involve reclamation, a stark contrast to the plans now apparent in the TAED Development Local Plan. This plan outlines the filling of over 444 acres of sea-land for the development of a man-made beach, resort, and golf course.
Previous Assurances Against Reclamation

In January 2021, Sabah's deputy chief minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin publicly announced that the Tanjung Aru Eco Development (TAED) project would not involve any land reclamation activities. This statement was reportedly well-received by conservation groups at the time. More recently, in August, TAED's chief executive officer Datuk Ismail Abdullah also stated that the project would not entail reclamation and would instead focus on increasing public and open spaces.
Details of the Reclamation Plan

Despite assurances, the approved and gazetted TAED Development Local Plan clearly indicates a significant land reclamation effort. This plan details the intention to fill over 444 acres of sea-land. This extensive reclamation is set to fundamentally alter the natural coastline, replacing it with a man-made beach designed to accommodate a resort and golf course.
Allegations of Historical Broken Promises

Save Open Space Kota Kinabalu argues that the state government has a pattern of not fulfilling promises related to public spaces and waterfront reclamation. As an example, the organisation cites the Sutera Harbour project, suggesting that past commitments regarding public space and limits on waterfront reclamation were either misleading or forgotten. They note that current Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor was part of the cabinet during previous administrations that made such promises.
Call to Halt Reclamation and Repeal Plans

The organisation is urging Chief Minister Hajiji Noor to halt the current reclamation deal and repeal the TAED local plans. They advocate for the return of the land to the city hall for management, proposing that the entire Tanjung Aru stretch be managed as a single entity, potentially expanding Prince Philip Park for health and recreation activities. They suggest an alternative expansion of the Tanjung Aru township with environmentally friendly and sustainable planning, deeming it more beneficial to locals than the TAED plan.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

Did the Sabah government break its promise on land reclamation?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends