SEMBULAN RIVER PROJECT UNJUSTIFIED

VIEW....Sembulan River view toward the sea.

THE KOTA Kinabalu Semulan River Beautification Project (Phase 1) undertaken by the DBKK and the Sabah Government utilizing huge amount of tax payers’ money up to RM18 millions was completed was completed last year.

Very sadly, there is no impact at all, and it came under heavy criticism from the Kota Kinabalu folks especially those who stay and work in the crowded Sadang Jaya Commercial Centre. This had become the playground of the Illegal Immigrants living here, especially at night. 

The smelly and dirty drains on the left and right of this so call riverside walk are filled with foul water giving out pungent smell, and it is very unhygienic.

The RM18 million spent to upgrade the 'Riverside Park' seem money not well spent, and it had resulted in the lost of many car parking spaces. It is a known case that the Sadong Jaya Commercial Centre had lost many businesses due to the difficulties in finding a car parking space.

To our surprises, now there is another Phase 2 Beautification Project allegedly being put up by the Government or DBKK to “further beautify” the Sembulan River side.

This time is using another staggering amount of RM15 million for the work. A reliable source told the KKMP Hiew King Cheu that the work will commence soon and the award letter is well on the way to be issued.

The rational behind expanding such a big sum of money to do a project that doesn’t really benefit the population is highly questionable. Some people said it is because a nearby building is belonging to a high ranking powerful BN politician, and that is why the riverside must be made beautiful to match his building surroundings. This can be classified as an abuse of power for personal gain.

MP Hiew said the big amount of money should be used to make good all the KK City walkways, pavements, roads and drains. The broken drains and walkways are already causing people to fall over hurting themselves and breaking their bones. The cars are damaged and the tire rims being twisted or deformed, who is going to pay for these?

The bad management and misappropriation of the public fund had put DBKK to be the worst on the list of financial management. This is stated clearly in the Auditors’ General Report 2011.

This riverside project is telling us exactly that. Therefore it is a must to listen first before execution, and do not follow what the politicians want. It is for the benefit of the people and for the politician by large.