Unfulfilled promises coupled with delays and uncomplete
projects
 PUTATAN, 30 Jan 2010: Big projects around Putatan Parliament areas costing
more than RM500 millions have been delayed for many years, said Sabah
Progressive Party (SAPP).
SAPP Secretary General Datuk Richard Yong said the most visible one is the
railway project costing more than RM300 millions, which experienced delays
since 2005.
He said the contractor had been given an extension but it was lapsed in
October 2009 and the government gave them another one-year new extension.
"The section of the railway from Lok Kawi to Tanjung Aru station with
multiple crossings is actually potential problems to traffic havoc and
endangering lives of the people as well as motorists," he said.
He said the expansion of the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA)
and the extension of the runway from 3 km to 3.8 km as well as
drainage system costing RM200 millions also delayed.
He said the original completion date of the KKIA was April 20 last year
and then extended to December 2009.
Richard said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman had some time ago even
announced that the Tanjung Aru fly-over was ahead of schedule but now it
is almost at stand still. "Which is which?" he asked.
Richard who is also SAPP Constituency Liaison Committee (CLC) Chairman
for Tanjung Aru was accompanied by Dullie Hj Marie, SAPP CLC Chairman for
Petagas, supreme councilor Puan Siaw Shui Lan and delegation of SAPP
members extending Chinese New Year (CNY) greetings and handing out CNY
cards to the residents and business outlets at Putatan, Petagas, Tanjung
Aru and Sembulan.
 He said Tanjung Aru is the gateway to Sabah and the city of Kota Kinabalu
. Unfortunately, the situations in the area which warrants serious
attentions at the moment, is being ignored.
"Look around, the slowness of works and delay of important projects year
in year out could be seen by visitors and locals alike, the projects still
going on, passing completion date again and again," he added.
He said on 1 Jan 2007 the then Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Chong Kah
Kiat had talked about the fly-over and two new four-lane highway, one from
terminal one to terminal two, the other, a coastal highway from Shangrila
Tanjung Aru Resort to Sutera Harbour. The roads from Jalan Mat Salleh to
Terminal two would also be widened.
The Contractor Global Upline Sdn Bhd said "We believe we can complete the
fly-over and new coastal highways in a year," However, it is more than
three years now, he said, adding the people have yet to see the
completions of all the projects mentioned, which was announced in a big
way.
Richard said the Tanjung Aru's new look Water Village project costing
about RM48 millions was announced on 8 March 2007.
He said the Phase One include the upgrading of access road, the catwalk,
the basic infrastructures and the tourism features estimated to cost RM10
millions.
He added that the area involved is 73 out of the 110 acres of overall area
in the Tanjung Aru water village comprising 235 houses and 1,175
occupants.
The project divided into two stages in which the first include water pipe
network, sewage, electricity, telephones, individuals and public toilets
as well as treatment plant.
"It was mentioned in that announcement that basing on work scope it would
take 19 months to complete. Now is already three years still far from any
signs of completion," he said.
Touching on the RM15 millions Park for Tanjung Aru, he said on 16
September 2004, the Chief Minister announced that State Cabinet approved
the transformation of the historic Hone Place spanning 16 acres into a
park called Ujana Perdana that may be the State Capital's and perhaps
Sabah's best.
He said the park located just at the exit of Terminal 2 of the KKIA
supposed to welcome arrival of tourists is yet to see its completion after
Musa's announcement more than five years ago.
"How much longer must the people wait in order to be able to see and to
enjoy any of the promised improvement, parks and better amenities promised
by this present Barisan Nasional Government," Richard said.
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