YB: Kukusan has potential to become a new sub-district
Published on: Wednesday, April 24, 2024
By: Jonathan Nicholas
Rina asked if the Government has plans to relocate the undocumented people, in line with the human capital development aspect of the Sabah Maju Jaya roadmap.
KUKUSAN: A coastal outskirt of Tawau with a population of 30,000, has the potential to become a new sub-district and hub.
However, Assemblywoman Rina Jainal (Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah) said illegal settlements are instead flourishing along its rivers and the aerodrome.
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She asked if the Government has plans to relocate the undocumented people, in line with the human capital development aspect of the Sabah Maju Jaya roadmap.
“The Sabah Governor, in his speech, mentioned the Sri Tanjung Local Plan Review under the Twelfth Malaysia Plan is expected to be completed in 2025.
“I believe Kukusan is also a part of the plan, but does this mean we will see the plan next year?
“How many more studies must be carried out since this issue should now be in the solution phase and no longer research.
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“I hope this is not an excuse for procrastination simply to prioritise stronger lobbies. We have no flowers to offer, we just want the work to commence,” she said at the State Assembly sitting on Tuesday.
She said the lack of clarity resulted in a football field and tennis court to be abandoned until eventually taken over by squatters.
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Rina, therefore, urged the local government to reopen such facilities and carry out regular maintenance so as not to invite “occupation” which she said would be much more difficult to curb.
She also said there are some areas in Tawau and Kalabakan where developers still manage their own infrastructure and public services without involving local authority despite residents paying the assessment rates.
“In Sabah, the handover of residential or commercial property management involves the transfer of responsibilities from the developer to the local authority.
“This is important to ensure the development of the area runs smoothly and meets the needs of the local population.
“Although these handovers have become common, there are imperfections in implementation.
“Developer’s refusal or failures result in the need to repave roads, blocked drainages, irregular grass cutting and non-functioning streetlights.
“This not only affects the well-being and safety of residents but also ignores the development of the area as a whole,” she said.
She suggested the State Government update its policies pertaining to the handovers and maintenance of public infrastructure under local government jurisdiction.
“The State can evaluate developer performance and identify causes of non-compliance, detail appropriate mechanisms and incentives to encourage developer cooperation and create an effective supervision and enforcement system,” she added.
She also questioned the steep local government valued property prices in Kukusan on par with those in the capital.
“We are in the outskirts of Tawau. How can the rates be the same when the social quality of these two cities is very different?
“The imbalance between supply and demand causes investors to take a step back. This is very unhealthy in ensuring the development of Tawau.”
Rina asked for a complete data of Tawau’s household income to determine their purchasing power.
“This is because Tawau needs to adapt in welcoming the vibrancy of Indonesia’s new capital. The potential of owning a second home in Tawau can be better explored,” she said.
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