The state government will strive to come up with “the best decision” to resolve issues concerning the proposed 16-storey commercial building project near the Atkinson Clock Tower, one of the historical heritage sites in Sabah, near Padang Merdeka here.
Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Hajiji Mohd Noor said the views of all quarters, including non-governmental organisations, would be taken into account before the final decision was made.
“The state government has decided that the proposed development in the area be reviewed by the Town and Regional Planning Department.
“So, we’ll have to wait for their findings first, then only we can take the matter to be finalised by the state government,” he told reporters after opening the Kota Kinabalu Polytechnic Orientation Week here today.
The state Environment Protection Department had rejected the environmental impact assessment report for the proposed construction of the commercial project, comprising a hotel and business outlets at a site near the century-old clock tower.
The tower, completed in 1905, is the only remaining pre-war structure in the state capital and is an important heritage in Sabah.
Hajiji also said that his ministry would make sure the state government’s vision of making Semporna a clean town would become a reality.
He urged the local authorities to work together to improve cleanliness in the east coast town, which is a gateway to the state’s popular island resorts including Sipadan Island, voted among the top five dive destinations in the world.
— BERNAMA
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Jimmy Tan
