MORE DEVELOPMENT TO COME

LOOKING.....Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Bernard Dompok (middle) looking at the model of the Penampang Central Complex together with High Avenue Development Executive Director Peter Teo (left) and Executive and Project Director Tengku Fuad Tengku Ahmad (right).

By : ELAINE MAH

THERE is always a future for development in the state, according to Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Tan Sri Datuk Bernard Dompok. He said this during the launch of the Penampang Central Complex in Penampang today.

Dompok told those present at the launch that the government has carried out  various measures to further push development in Sabah.

Citing an example, he said that the government has proposed the building of a coastal road from Kota Kinabalu to Kudat and Kota Marudu.

"If you have a coastal highway going from Kota Kinabalu to Kudat, which will be, say, 2 kilometres from the shoreline, there will be a lot of land for development along the way," he said.

Dompok also stated that there has been a definite Cabinet decision to build a road from Kota Kinabalu to the border of Brunei. The construction of this dual carriageway will be in phases. Tenders will be sorted out before the end of this year and construction will commence in 2013.

"For all the shortcomings that the opposition talks about, there are some good things that the government is doing in terms of development," he said.

Commenting on the development of the Penampang Central Complex, Dompok expressed his delight in seeing a development project that is different from what is normally seen in the district of Penampang in recent years.

"I have been a little unhappy over the last few years seeing the type of development that we have in the form of  the standard shop-house buildings." he said.

According to Dompok, with the typical shop-house buildings, prospective renters are more inclined to rent only the ground floor for the purpose of establishing eateries. The second, third and fourth stories are usually more difficult to rent out.

"You have here a product that is much better than what we normally see in Penampang. I am happy that this has happened and certainly it will add vigour and improvement to Penampang," he told those present at the launching today.

The Penampang Central Complex - a project by High Avenue Development Sdn. Bhd - will be a new and upcoming development in the Penampang District. Expected to be completed in a year and a half's time, the project will boast over 92,000 square feet of office, showroom and retail space.

According to Executive and Project Director of High Avenue, Tengku Fuad Tengku Ahmad, Penampang Central will feature 16 blocks, comprising 5 and 6 storey buildings. Located close to residential areas, the complex will also feature 117 sub-basement and above ground parking bays.

According to project sources the prices for the 16 blocks range between RM2.9 million to RM3.5 million. Insight Sabah was told that 7 blocks have already been sold.

High Avenue Executive Director Peter Teo said that the project will incorporate a "green concept",. The buildings will have glass panels, two garden terraces and a  sky garden.

Dompok expressed his hope that this would be the start of a new way of looking at developments in Penampang.

"I would like to see more of such development in the future that will bring new investors to Penampang," he said. (Insight Sabah)