Tun Fuad Park to turn into City Botanical Garden
KOTA KINABALU: The government plans to turn the Tun Fuad Park in Bukit Padang into a botanical garden.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie Apdal disclosed this when replying to DAP Luyang assemblyman Phoong Jin Zhe on the last day of the State Assembly sitting on Tuesday.
Phoong had asked the state government for its plans to upgrade the leisure park given its current unsatisfactory condition.
Through a written reply, the Chief Minister revealed that the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) is planning to turn Tun Fuad Park into a City Botanical Garden. The budget application for this purpose had already been presented to the National Landscape Department (NLD) in 2016.
Basically, the proposals to upgrade the park have been approved and work is estimated to be carried out in the year 2019. So far the NLD has not announced the approved budget, he said. Nevertheless, the estimated cost needed by DBKK will be about RM100 million.
According to Shafie, as the Botanical Garden also acts as a leisure centre, exercise and jogging facilities will not only be maintained but will be upgraded.
Besides, the park will also be valueadded with the construction of the botanical garden which would involve the planting of various flora, a horticulture centre, nurseries as well as additional facilities such as jetty and observation spots.
“While waiting for the budget to be approved by the National Landscape Department for the purposes of building the garden, DBKK will from time to time upgrade the existing facilities as well as repair damages found in the park in accordance with the annual budget,” said the Chief Minister.
Among the repair works completed are public toilets worth RM250,000 which will be open for public use when electricity is supplied from Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd.
Furthermore, there will be an open space besides the entrance of Tun Fuad Park for assembly and rest, the construction of which will begin in the shortest time possible with a cost of RM120,000.
Among other repair works will see exercise stations, signboards, stools as well as resting shelter being fixed with total costs adding up to RM90,000.
The Chief Minister added that remeasuring work for the purposes of determining the actual border of the park area was completed in July.
Meanwhile, smaller scale maintenance and repairs such as replacement of rubbish bin and broken wooden board along the bridges will be carried out from time to time by DBKK personnel working in the area.
Phoong said that he welcomed the idea by the Chief Minister and looked forward to the upgrading of Tun Fuad Park and its recreational facilities as pushing for better recreational parks for Kota Kinabalu has always been one of his main agendas.
He is positive that the park commonly coined by the public as Bukit Padang, will even become an attraction spot for citizens and tourists alike after the renovation.
“I am glad to hear that the Chief Minister has plans for the long neglected Tun Fuad Park and I look forward to its new look,” he added.