KOTA KINABALU – The Sembulan river beautification project, a RM45 million initiative started a decade ago, remains incomplete and unable to fully achieve its goals.
The plan was initially touted as a beacon of transformation for the historic Sembulan riverside into a prominent recreation and entertainment park, featuring water taxi services and a variety of dining options upon completion.
Today, however, the recreation park portion along the riverfront has broken benches, missing tiles, damaged wooden decks, and scattered construction debris throughout the area.
Few visitors flock to the park due to inadequate lighting, especially during the evening hours.
State government officials have been unresponsive to The Vibes’ queries on plans to maintain and restore the area.
Murky answers
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew, who had visited the area in 2020 and announced plans to restore the riverside park, was coy when answering The Vibes’ questions.
“Let me check with Kota Kinabalu City Hall first. The river is under their jurisdiction and management, and also under the Tanjung Aru state constituency,” said Liew, who is also Api-Api assemblyman.
Kota Kinabalu Mayor Datuk Noorliza Awang Alip also did not provide a clear answer, except to say that the project is now under a prominent Sabah businessman’s watch.
For RM45 million, the Sembulan river beautification project was targeted at rehabilitating the river that runs between Karamunsing and Sembulan in Kota Kinabalu’s major business district and to turn it into a public recreational space.
The initiative was an entry point project under the 9th, 10th, and 11th Malaysia Plans (2006-2020).
Under the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority, the riverside park was envisioned as a potential spring for new jobs and business opportunities once completed, ranging from restaurant work to water taxi services.
Work was divided into three parcels: the first commenced in 2010, with completion taking place in 2013 at a reported cost of RM25 million.
Seven generations
A decade later, work on the remaining two parcels have yet to begin, largely due to the presence of squatters occupying land opposite the park.
For years, local authorities for years have not been successful in relocating the squatters, who are a mix of locals and migrants.
The pockets of land where they reside are the last remaining portions of Kg Sembulan Lama, the rest having been destroyed in a fire years ago, according to a landowner there named Shari Jeffri.
He said various parties including government-linked firms have expressed interest in the land over the years.
“Historically, the Sembulan land was Brunei sultanate territory, belonging to a Brunei pangeran, and subsequently was ceded to the British North Borneo Chartered Company in 1898.
“The original folks are descendants of the Sembulan Lama’s Bajau Samah clan, whose ancestors were members of the ancient Brunei naval forces.
“Most of us here today have lived in the area for seven generations,” he said.
Shari said most of the original villagers did not oppose development plans for the area.
He said they heard that condominiums have been earmarked for their side of the river.
“It is hoped ownership priority would be given to the original villagers under a favourable scheme.” – The Vibes, July 12, 2023
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