Need to gazette Draft Local Plan, says Goh
Published on: Friday, March 24, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: Political will is needed to get the Draft Local Plan (for urban planning and development control purposes) gazetted.Honorary Adviser to the United Sabah Chinese Communities Association of Kota Kinabalu (USCCAKK), Datuk Francis Goh, stressed this when officiating at USCCAKK New Office Opening Ceremony at Wisma Pendidikan, here, Thursday."We need political will to have the Draft Local Plan tabled in the Sabah State Legislative Assembly for the Head of State to gazette it. It will solve all the problems.
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"I am not an assemblyman yet but I am saying that one day, if I win the Kapayan State seat, I will bring this matter to the attention of the Assembly," he told the gathering.Goh, who is the President of Shareda, pointed out that from property developers' experience, any Development Plan for any project up to the construction part may take about 36 months."That is the duration of the whole process of all unnecessary lengthy procedures. In fact, this can be solved by one easy way. We are still using the Draft Local Plan implemented by the Central Town and Country Planning Board.
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"By gazetting the Plan, all this unnecessary delay will be diminished by at least 24 months," he contended, adding that the Plan is adopted for development in all the 26 districts in Sabah.Secondly, Goh expressed great concern for members of the Chinese community who own Country Lease (CL) land with a 999-year leasehold.
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"In the past, we had a Master Title (or leasehold title for 999 years), but after we submit it for conversion of land use, it will be approved but only for a tenure of 99 years. This is unfair to the Chinese community in Sabah as freehold land is the common practice in the peninsula. Even after submitting the title for development, its freehold status remains unchanged (that is, a 999-year lease)," he explained. (A freehold title means the landowner owns the property in perpetuity or until the world ends).Against this scenario, Goh said, one of his reasons for joining politics is to fight for the benefit of the future generation, especially the Chinese community.Meanwhile, in response to USCCAKK President Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen's hope that he in his capacity as a joint venture developer for Wisma Zhong Hua can make the dream of SUCCC and USCCAKK come true as soon as possible, Goh pledged to pay compensation (although it is not stated in the Agreement) in the event of late delivery of Wisma Zhong Hua, "given that certain matters are beyond our control".Wisma Zhong Hua is scheduled to be completed in 36 months from the commencement of construction, hopefully in June this year.Earlier, Wong, who is the 14th President, in her address, said SUCCC and USCCAKK as the joint land owners of the proposed Wisma Zhong Hua, are looking forward to the completion of the building, which will belong to the 15 Chinese clan associations. "We have faith in (Datuk) Francis fulfilling his promise to complete Wisma Zhong Hua within the stipulated time frame. When completed, the 16-storey building will have a shopping mall, a five-star hotel, 998 parking lots and a ballroom with a capacity of 1,500. Both associations will get four office lots, one meeting room and 20pc profit sharing from the parking revenue generated."Wong added that the New Office was being rented from the Kota Kinabalu Hokkien Association, (thanks to the goodwill of its President Datuk Clement Yeh) for another four to five years until the completion of Wisma Zhong Hua "which will serve as our permanent official premises".She also thanked Goh for his partial sponsorship (amounting to RM25,000) of the renovation expenses for the New Office, describing it as a place like home to strengthen the sense of belonging and unity among USCCAKK member organisations.Goh unveiled the plaque at the opening ceremony, witnessed by the Consul-General of the People's Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu, Her Excellency (HE) Chen Peijie, President of SUCCC, Datuk Seri Gan Sau Wah and Wong.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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