Preserve Tanjung Aru Beach into integrated public park
KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan vice president Datuk Junz Wong has made a strong case for preserving Tanjung Aru beach as an integrated public park and to make it as one of the key tourist attractions.
He said the entire area of Tanjung Aru beach and hinterland should be transformed into an integrated public park, akin to Singapore’s East Coast Park or Australia’s famed Bondi Beach.
“We have one of the best gems and unparallel spots for recreational activities; and in watching the dazzling sun setting amidst with our beautiful winding beach shore and islands.
“Hence, it’s imperative that we need to upkeep this pristine space and beach open and attractive for the public,” said Junz who is Tanjung Aru assemblyman, in a statement on Monday.
Echoing the sentiments of environmentalists and local residents, he envisions the beach and hinterland area as a bustling park and hub for sports and recreational activities, staging as part of the international and local events for swimming, cycling, skateboarding, joggerthon, marathon, iron man event, Scout Jamboree, music festivals, wedding and family recreational events; attracting both locals and international tourists to participate and enjoy its natural splendor.
Wong said he strongly opposed any hotel developments on or near the beachfront, emphasizing that such constructions would impede public access and spoil the panoramic sea and sunset views.
“Tanjung Aru’s charm lies in its natural and pristine beauty, which should not be overshadowed by commercial interests.”
He suggested that hotels and commercial activities can be developed and built further in the hinterland to mix and complement the park area, attracting and preserving the access to the stunning beachfront and sunset views for everyone’s enjoyment.
Wong’s statement is a call to prioritize environmental and public interests in development projects.
“Our end goal should be to develop in a responsible and environmentally sustainable manner, ensuring that our natural heritage and gems such as the famed Tanjung Aru Beach will become one of the key tourist attractions and for our future generations to come,” he concluded.
Tanjung Aru Eco-Development Sdn Bhd (TAED) is re-looking into the development of the beach by developing the land areas and leaving the beachfront untouched for now.
Its chairman, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin, had said that they were now focusing towards the development of Prince Philip Park and also converting the land space for the current hawker area into a hotel.
Pandikar said that they did not have plan yet to reclaim the beachfront as proposed under the original master plan.
He said the plan was to expand and upgrade the 6.5ha Prince Philip Park to cover an area of 12ha with new facilities.