Tg Aru project put on hold
KOTA KINABALU: The Tanjung Aru Eco Development (TAED) reclamation works have been suspended until further notice from the new state government.
Confirming this yesterday, Kota Kinabalu Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai said the project covers 861 acres, comprising over 300 acres on land and the rest to be reclaimed and divided into 44 lots.
Four of the lots are to remain with the state government and the rest to be tendered out, he added.
“It has not been tendered out, but the estimated reclamation would be around RM3 billion to RM4 billion for the whole project. It will take two and a half years to do the reclamation. There is no go ahead, we haven’t signed (anything),” Yeo said during a Kota Kinabalu Development Briefing.
The briefing was atended by Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister and Sri Tanjong assemblyman Jimmy Wong Sze Phin, Assistant Law and Native Affairs minister and Kapayan assemblywoman Jannie Lasimbang, Likas assemblyman Tan Lee Fatt, Luyang assemblyman Phoong Jin Zhe, and DAP Sabah Keningau chairman Peter Saili on this at the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) Building here yesterday.
The Mayor proposed that the new government to go ahead with the project’s land development and cease the reclamation works completely.
“It is the most unique development, you can keep it until you think it is necessary. Trust me all projects in the sea, we suspend it because we see from your manifesto and your pledge.
“So stop project, so we stop the reclamation, something like that. YB (Chan), (this is) just for your information because it is a big decision. Title is intact,” he explained.
Yeo disclosed that with a total investment of RM3.6 billion, the whole TAED project could generate RM10 billion.
He said the Sabah Finance Ministry had granted RM36 million to amongst other things do the study and survey.
“The RM500 million grant from the federal government has yet to arrive,” pointed out Yeo.
According to DBKK information, a certificate of assent had been granted by Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin on March 5, 2018. The government gazette was then published on April 5, 2018.
Meanwhile, DAP Sabah will push for the funding needed to implement past modern public transportation system plans in Greater Kota Kinabalu.
Through the briefing, it was revealed that money matters had been the main factor for nonimplementation of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) here.
“We hold two important federal portfolios. One is the Ministry of Finance and then the Ministry of Transport,” said Chan.
“I hope we can use the right channel to expedite the (acquirement of) funding to be used by DBKK (Kota Kinabalu City Hall) especially (for) public transportation.
“We feel that public transportation is an issue that is important, we must control it,” he added.
During the briefing, Yeo disclosed that the BRT integrated plan involved RM1.2 billion and the LRT would need around RM4 billion in Greater Kota Kinabalu.
He said no funding had been received from the federal government for these plans.
Also involved in the briefing was DBKK director general Datuk Joannes Solidau.