WHAT A BIG JOKE AT ATKINSON TOWER?

STATE Government leaders should stop playing act about the mixed-commercial development project at the Sabah Housing and Town Development Authority (SHTDA) land near the Atkinson Clock Tower here.

SHTDA Chairman, Datuk Rubin Balang’s disclosure that the project’s Development Plan had been approved by the Cabinet was a shocked to the public because they were the one who allowed such controversial project to proceed, said Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Information Chief, Chong Pit Fah.

“Also, they should be aware of their job or maybe there is a hidden agenda (for pretending to be concerned),” he said in a statement here Thursday.

Chong said SAPP was puzzled to note Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun as well as Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai making statements as though they didn’t know that they had already approved the project.

“Ones should wonder about their statements while in fact they were the ones who had approved the project in the first place,” he said.

Rubin had said that the project, a joint-venture between SHTDA and a private developer, had also been approved by the Central Board and City Hall.

The project would see two buildings being erected namely for SHTDA use and a mixed commercial building including a high-end hotel near the Atkinson Clock Tower.

Rubin had said that efforts were being taken to ensure that the historical structure would not be affected by the project.

However, Chong said SAPP President Datuk Yong Teck Lee had also revealed that the plan by SHTDA to develop its land on which the Atkinson Clock Tower is located are subject to the heritage conservation law in force.

Yong said the wooden clock tower has been protected since 1997 under the Cultural Heritage (Conservation) Enactment .

Therefore, he said it was the duty of the present government to protect the site and he was certain that Masidi as the minister in charge of Culture should be aware of the enactment.