KOTA KINABALU – A civil society group in Sabah has criticised the state’s town planning, especially here, saying much of the plans are not long-term.
KotaKita Sabah founder Rashidah Kamaluddin said this is a result of poor community engagement, citing as example the Skybridge and the proposed Skytrain project.
“Although Sabah has always been in need of better infrastructure both in urban and rural areas, these two aforementioned infrastructure projects have received criticism from the public.
“It is not the design or practicality of these structures that are the issue.
“It is the community’s experience of these spaces on a day-to-day basis. They understand the challenges and the sort of improvements needed for their own town,” she said.
Stressing the need for the government to improve community engagement, Rashidah said she believed the community is the real expert of its own townships.
“The communities should be involved in town planning as they are capable and keen.”
Rashidah said that even though tourism brings in huge revenue for Sabah, certain facilities developed with tourists in mind tend to focus on “symbolic and temporary” structures.
“However, if we put our own local community in the centre of the process, the infrastructure will be developed in a much more sustainable approach, which in turn shall enhance tourists’ experience of Sabah.”
Rashidah also questioned government transparency on the Skytrain project, as a memorandum of understanding was signed before public consultation and research were done.
“In the case of the Skytrain, its feasibility is very questionable. In the first place, the community should have been asked if the Skytrain is essential to them.”
Rashidah added that the government should remove the “we know best” mindset, saying the history of development in Sabah shows that mistakes result from improper planning, lack of in-depth research, and engagement with the community.
She said Sabahans are paying a high price for past developments that were made unsustainably, adding that the government now should not let future generations suffer from the consequences of their decisions today. – The Vibes, December 9, 2021
