KOTA KINABALU – Sabah’s iconic Tg Aru beach and Prince Philip Park will be maintained as the state government proceeds with the Tg Aru Eco Development (TAED) project.
Speaking on plans to improve and beautify the beach, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor said TAED will be people-centric, with more public spaces and accessibility features incorporated in the revised, scaled-down version of the project.
“The new development will ensure sustainability and take into account green initiatives.
“The iconic Tg Aru beach and Prince Philip Park will be maintained, improved and beautified for the public to access and enjoy.
“There will be no cost incurred by the government. All projects under TAED must not only be viable financially, economically and socially, but also, fully funded by the investors sanctioned by the government,” he said after chairing the first TAED board of directors meeting at Menara Kinabalu today.
Defending the controversial endeavour, Hajiji said TAED will bring about monetary gains and business opportunities for locals, and boost the state’s tourism sector.
He said several firms have expressed interest in TAED, including the Chinese government-linked China Railway Construction Company International Investment Group Ltd through its local joint-venture company Mesra Melia Sdn Bhd.
The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government has decided to proceed with the project following a revision that downsizes its scale, he said.
This includes excluding two schools, namely SK Tg Aru I and SK Tg Aru II, from the development.
The previous master development plan proposed that the schools be relocated to Kg Tg Aru, which would involve land acquisition.
A stalemate between the state government, Tanjung Aru Eco Development Sdn Bhd, environmentalists and residents resulted in existing park facilities being left abandoned and in ruins. – The Vibes, September 7, 2021
