Leave the aesthetic Tanjung Aru Beach for posterity (malaysiakini)

http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/361338

7 pages submission to EPD 31/10/2016

https://www.facebook.com/groups/360940110907191/

TAED is doomed to fail ecologically and economically

3 millions Sabahans must stop the TAED at all costs now or the next generation or sooner have to pay for the claims by the investors who pay for the properties there when every thing would go wrong with TAED as it is not ACTS of God but acts of Musa Aman and his cronies including DHI.

Professionals of TAED

As TAED is advance in implementation despite SEIA approved, please list out the key professionals like Architect, engineers and other consultants to implement this superior project ..to no way..

take DBKK to task for 50 years of neglect..

Bathers risk diseases in Tg Aru beach Published on: Thursday, August 25, 2016 Kota Kinabalu: Tanjung Aru Beach is a popular recreational beach famed for glorious sunsets, but – not all is well in the city Aru Waterfront paradise. Based on World Health Organisation (WHO) reference, the level of pollution in the drains and nearshore off Tanjung Aru Beach and its surroundings carries a high risk of transmission of diseases. Water samples collected over several campaigns show high faecal counts. Bathing water quality is affected by the existing conditions that show eight drains discharge polluted water directly onto the beach. The public is exposed to the polluted water when bathing in the vicinity of the drains and in shallow water. This was revealed during the presentation of findings with regard to the Special Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) report by DHI consultants who have drawn up an eco-friendly master plan vision to rehabilitate, regenerate and rejuvenate the natural beauty of Tanjung Aru Beach for future generations. DHI Water & Environment (M) Sdn Bhd is the SEIA Consultant firm. Public can submit feedback by email: taed_SEIA@dhigroup.com "Important understanding when dealing with waterfront development – that artificial beaches and waterways don't know they are artificial, they will immediately start responding to the natural marine forces. "It is imperative for a successful design to understand the mechanisms that generate natural attractive beaches and lagoons. "DHI's design strategy is guided by the 'Work with Nature' principles. Working with nature ensures sustainability and minimum impacts," said DHI presenter Tania Golingi. DHI proposed the creation of a new 1.35 km long public beach, 65m wide at high tide, 125m wide at low tide with 60m wide linear beachside public park featuring beach promenade, food kiosks, walking tracks, changing facilities, toilets to be serviced with free electric bus along the beach to boost the local tourism industry and create long term employment for the people of Sabah. The plan also aims to revitalise and enlarge Prince Philip Park with a 1,800 public car park in seven storey structure nearby to keep the development a 'car-lite area' with dedicated cycle lanes. The consultants opined that the beach within the project area is suffering erosion with the useable beach largely absent at high tide. Sand quality has severely deteriorated with increasing flood risks. Without intervention, erosion will continue and further reduce amenity beach. Beach quality will further deteriorate and continue to be a risk to recreational uses as bathing water quality is unhealthy. Flood risks and occurrences will increase. Question: Why such a large project – can the issues not be solved through a smaller scale project, e.g. realigning drains combined with beach nourishment? Answer: Some improvements can be achieved through beach nourishment, but a larger project is required to achieve most of the objectives. Most of the enhancements will not be realised and it will not be sustainable. The erosion tendency will remain. Poor sediment quality in deeper water will remain and be re-suspended by waves to create turbid water. Fines from Sungei Petagas will still reach the site and together with suspended fines mix with new material to deteriorate beach quality. In addition, there will be no revenue stream to finance and maintain the improvements. The targeted beach reopening schedule is set on Month 31 of the construction duration of 33 months with the intent to keep the 3rd Beach open for as long as practical and safe. For those who were campaigning against the loss of the beach to the public, it actually happened when the KKIA airport runway extension was built years ago cutting off a section of the beach. Before the Hone Place football field was taken over by Perdana Park, there was a plan to build low-cost housing on the site leading to public outcry against such campaign as was reclamation in Likas Bay.

Sabah coastal area...

This international scientific research finding is actually not new as it was released in 2010. The other states that will be affected are Kelantan, Sabah and Sarawak. Moreover, Malaysia has a long shoreline with many of our cities located near the coast. This global mean sea level rise is caused by the warming of the ocean, loss of ice by glaciers and ice sheets, as well as reduction of liquid water storage on land. Read more: https://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/353315#ixzz4IAeWCbl9 If that happen we will lose our KKIA..

Public forum by DHI

20 August 2016 at DBKK 1st floor hall. 2 session 9-12noon and 1.30-4pm

Stop TAED because of hidden agenda of corruption..

Home / Sabah Local News Whatever we ask we will get: Musa Published on: Sunday, August 07, 2016 Kota Kinabalu: Umno members in Sabah are advised to be wary of the actions of certain leaders who have ditched the party for reasons only known to them. "Be very careful with disappointed people or leaders because they will make all kinds of statements. To us, leaders come and go. It is up to them if they want to leave the party," said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman (pic). "If they want to betray the party's struggle, let them. (What) we want are leaders who sincerely work for the people. "We do not want leaders who only think about themselves. Blaming others although it is their own mistakes...this is not our style." Musa, who is Sabah Umno chief, also said there was no necessity for the 'Sabah for Sabahans' call but what is important is that the people and their future generation benefit from all the development programmes carried out by the Government. "This is our struggle, we want to live in a developed State that promises a bright future not only for us but also for our children," he said, at the joint opening of the Umno Kota Kinabalu Youth, Wanita and Puteri movements' annual delegates meeting at the Community Centre, Saturday. According to him, the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Umno leaders in Sabah are always discussing to bring about the best for Sabah and the people. "Trust us, we will continue to fight and we will continue to meet with anyone, particularly the Prime Minister, for the sake of getting everything that is needed for Sabah," he said. He said leaders from Sabah have no hesitation in putting forward requests to boost security, education and healthcare among others from the Federal Government. He admitted that there were still some sections of the community in need of assistance due to the vast hinterland with Sabah being the second biggest state after Sarawak. "We are thankful that we are enjoying peace and harmony as well as a cordial relationship with Federal Government. We ask and we will get. Whatever we plan we will do it," he said. On another note, Musa reiterated his call for party leaders and members not to be complacent with the present situation. "Do not take our present strength for granted. When we are still in power as the government we must ensure Sabah continues to progress. This we must defend," he said, adding, however there was no place for those abusing power. Instead, he said power must be used wisely in order to develop the State, create jobs and to care for the people.

can technologies be used for TAB without TAED?

Home / Opinion Towards collaborative, inclusive IoT Ecosystem Published on: Saturday, July 09, 2016 By Datuk Madius Tangau Imagine the street lights adjusting their level of lighting according to visibility on the road to improve drivers’ safety; the community participating in the police forces and local authorities to combat crime; having public transportation information in real time right in your hand; traffic lights communicating with vehicles on the road to ease congested areas; real time early disaster warning, and enhanced and efficient first respond management system. This scenario is possible by leveraging Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. The Internet is evolving to give better insight and foresight to us humans to enhance our daily operations and processes through a world of networked smart devices equipped with sensors, connected to the Internet, which in turn through the exploitation of science, technology, engineering and mathematics translate the gathered data into new economic opportunitiesthrough new applications and services. The growth of population, growth of global economy, and the advancement of communication technology has added pressure to existing finite resources. As a result, this has created the ideal environment for the IoT technology to flourish. Of late, there are majorIoT implementations focusing on energy, water, transport, healthcare, agriculture, and government service deliveries. For example, Finland has implemented national energy management system, Korea recently introduced elderly care while in China IoT is employed to monitor pollution levels to control the number of vehicles entering major cities. Like any ground breaking new technology, IoT enables cross fertilisation of market applications and services resulting disruption of business model such as everything-as-sharing and application-based economy. Take the taxi industry for example, IoT has clearly revolutionized the traditional taxi hailing from the street curbs through taxi booking through mobile applications. As the IoT technology is fully embedded and new business model is further defined, created innovative companies where taxi services are displaced by the concept of ride sharing. To create new value out of IoT, several challenges must be addressed to unleash its full potential. The fear of technology adoption and information silos needs to be eliminated to facilitate the creation of innovative applications and services. Malaysia must garner all her resources through the support of inter-Government agencies and collaborate with industry players and academia to develop the right ecosystem for IoT industry. We have set the Vision in the National IoT Strategic Roadmap to chart the path for Malaysia to become the Regional IoT development Hub to create a RM9.5 billion of yearly economic contribution by 2020, and RM42.5 billion in 2025. We need to first develop an IoT industry ecosystem which is conducive to accelerate the implementation of IoT technologies;secondly strengthen the capabilities and capacities of technoprenueurs in developing IoT-based application and services; and thirdly to position Malaysia as The Regional IoT Development Hub. Talent is always top-of-mind for implementing any initiative of a nation. Thus, technopreneur development is identified as the short-term strategy to strengthen and revitalise Malaysian technopreneurs to be participate in the global competitive arena. Technopreneurincubation initiatives should be intensified to grow service-based entrepreneurs to harvest the 80pc IoT-driven market opportunities which gravitate towards applications and services. Currently, many industry players are not familiar with the implementation of IoT. IoT itself is a big idea and there are many elements contributing to the realisation of the IoT concept. It is akin to a jigsaw puzzle that requires all pieces to fit together in the right way to achieve defined goals. Seeing is believing, therefore the strategic roadmap has identified but not limit to the four market segments to demonstrate the value of IoT in convincing users to willingly adopt emerging technologies such as IoT. The selection of the focus areas is premised on the strength of existing national ICT initiatives, which shall provide a strong springboard for Malaysia to leapfrog towards widespread advances of IoT in the identified strategic focus areas. Agriculture being the strategic segment will utilise IoT to boost income the B40 (below forty percent income level)community by enhancing the sectorial productivity while preserving national food security. Both Healthcare and Manufacturing segments are identified as growth segment, with the former aims to improve healthcare service delivery, and the latter with objective to enhance the supply chain efficiency and reduce the gap between small & medium enterprises and multinational corporations. The transportation segment is identified to serve the community’sneeds by improving the efficiency and service levels of transport operations. The market deployment strategy is aimed to manifest visible value and illustrates how an array of IoT-related technologies is being deployed in different scenarios. This will facilitate stakeholder adoption of new solution and reduces implementation complexity. Furthermore, in aligning with Malaysia aspiration to position Cyberjaya as Global Technology Hub, several initiatives currently undertaken between Cyberview, MCMC and MIMOS to formulate Cyberjaya as the IoT Application and Service Technology Development Hub, which target to be fully operation in early 2017. The Hub will be equipped with IoT Service Platform that enable local technopreneurs with competitive capacities and capabilities which are on-par with global players, and subsequently participate in global IoT arena. As mentioned earlier, technology complexities and data silo are the two main concerns that may prevent participation of local technopreneurs. Henceforth, in RMK11, MIMOS, an agency under my ministry has developed an open technology platform to harmonise the myriads of the multi-standard of IoT-related technology. The open technology platform will lower the entry barriers for local entrepreneur and enables for local industry players to leverage and harness breakthrough convergent technologies for the development of applications and services. As for data sharing, the key concerns are the protection of privacy personal data and the commercial rights of the data owners that can be alleviated through the open technology framework. The framework will embed with mechanism in preserving data privacy and security for both users and enterprises. Through the open technology platform the industry will be able to cross develop new solutions that work seamlessly across a wide range of applications with flexibility, scalability and compatibility. Consequently, this framework provides a competitive advantage and new opportunities for Malaysian technopreneurs to diversify and increase revenue streams. Furthermore, strategic and active promotion of the Malaysia ecosystem via various government agencies’ community will generate demand, which in turn will broaden the market beyond Malaysia. We could position the Malaysian IoT ecosystem as the IoT value-based partner of the world, to create the country new economic source and new jobs for Malaysian. Looking ahead, consumers, the government and businesses are moving inevitably towards the IoT. While we are concerned about information security and privacy, information storage and management and the digital divide, it is imperative that the growth of IoT in Malaysia occur within an ecosystem driven by key strategic thrusts that establish a framework for its endeavours. The enablers shall harness the intrinsic values of the three strategic thrusts towards the institutionalisation and recognition of Malaysia as the Premier Regional IoT Development Hub.

we should compose a theme song, poem, and a book to save TAB...

anyone to sponsor this project SAVE Tanjung Aru Beach...

If TAED goes ahead KKIA would be flooded like a river one day of very heavy rain

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2016/07/19/flooding-at-penang-airport-due-to-unprecedented-rainfall/ GEORGE TOWN: Yesterday’s rainfall in the area of the Penang International Airport that resulted in massive flooding at the terminal, was the highest ever in the history of the airport, with nearly 80mm of rain recorded at the height of the severe thunderstorm. The airport’s senior general-manager Arif Jaafar said flooding occurred at the terminal as the existing drains were unable to push out the excess water accumulated following the “unprecedented” downpour. He said despite a fully functioning 350,000-litre on-site detention (OSD) tank at the airport, waters could not be channeled out quickly enough, due to the rising tide.

whole loads of rubbish and the hidden AGENDA is hidden...

http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/read.cfm?NewsID=2134 A world class legacy – thanks to Musa Published on: Sunday, July 17, 2016 By Datuk John Lo Like many life situations, the zero-sum approach can be unproductive and at times, detrimental, especially in the realm of economic policies and development. Zero-sum is basically confrontational like opposition politics. It is “either/or” or winner takes all. It leads to stakeholders taking overtly strong stance, making little room for compromise. Also it promotes narrow/tunnel perspectives, preventing the realisation of greater common good. There is a small number of people who have taken or tend to take this zero-sum approach in their opposition to the proposed multi-billion Ringgit TAED [Tanjong Aru Eco Development]. Here are some pointers to help looking at TAED in a “win-win” perspective. Ownership of Tanjong Aru Eco Development Sdn Bhd: There is no private shareholder in this company. The company, land and management of the development are completely under the ownership and control of the State Government. The Chief Minister is the chairman of the company. No ambiguity. Previously, the “Hone Place” development attracted a lot of unhealthy speculations of backhanded manoeuvrings. These have proven to be false. The “Hone Place” has now been transformed into the “The Perdana Park”. The iconic soon-to-be completed State Library is also there. TAED can be developed into a destination that will contribute for the overall economic and social advancements of Sabah. Environmental Impact and Reclamation: In recent times, environmental impact has become a great concern which is correct. The environment consultant for Tanjong Aru Eco Development is DHI Water & Environment (M) Sdn Bhd of the DHI group of Denmark which has a world renowned reputation. Likewise, the master planner/architecture firm of Broadway Malyan. Both firms’ credentials are available on Google. Relevant Government officials will no doubt go through the environment impact study by DHI consultant with a fine toothcomb. Likewise, the Board of Directors of TAED will want the best for the environment too. Some objectors have voiced great concern on TAED’s massive reclamation. Compared to the reclamation undertaken in other countries, the TAED reclamation is relatively very insignificant. So let us not reject TAED by using reclamation as a reason. Reclamations cannot be all negative. Massive reclamations have been done the world over all the time, particularly in advanced countries. These countries have used reclamations to their great economic and social advantage. The most well-known case is Holland which has 17pc of its total land area from reclamation and lakes for centuries. Holland’s total reclaimed land is about 7,000 sq. km! The Dutch will be proud to tell you that “God created the world. The Dutch created Holland”. Holland’s national survival has hinged on reclaimed land. Singapore has 22pc of her total land area from reclamation and has built a whole myriad of economic and recreational facilities on the reclaimed land like the Marina Financial Centre, Garden by the Bay, Marina Golf Course and the Marina Sands Hotels. Reclaimed land at the 360-hectare Marina Financial Centre is one of the most expensive in the world. A very substantial portion of Singapore’s economy [also large number of people working] is now being produced on reclaimed land. Denmark and Dubai have also undertaken major reclamations. The world’s first 6 star Burj Al Arab Jumeirah resort has been built on reclaimed land in the sea. USA which is properly the leading country in conservation has a dedicated “US Reclamation Bureau” which is a Federal Agency. This Bureau speaks for itself of the importance of reclamation in the US economy. Obvious from these examples, we should not advocate no reclamation on TAED or any other projects in Sabah. The issue is NOT “DON’T RECLAIM” BUT “HOW TO DO IT RIGHT”. Wrong to deprive ourselves and our future generations of the great economic and social opportunities from reclamation at Tanjong Aru. The economic potentials of TAED, which I will revert, can be the biggest tourism contributor to achieving the vision of Datuk Musa’s Halatuju and Sabah’s tourism industry. TAED – “MISSING LINK” for Sabah becoming a Full-fledged Tourism Destination: Sabah’s tourism has achieved a lot. But we cannot stay stagnant. Hard as it may be for us to swallow but Sabah is no Bali or Phuket yet. Though Sabah has many tourism potentials, we are still a small player in comparison to some of the regional better destinations. For starters, Sabah does not even have a world class full-fledged integrated tourism destination up to now. We may have two Shangri-Las or a Sutera Harbour but these are hardly enough. TAED will be Sabah’s first A-Z integrated tourism destination with world class facilities. Together with SICC [Sabah International Convention Centre], Sabah will be very well placed to attract many more high-end FITs [Free Independent Tourists] and MICE [Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Events]. Sabah needs TAED to become a serious tourism player in this region to compete with Thailand and Bali. I hope TAED will the first of many more to come. The alternative of not having the equivalent of TAED is that Sabah will likely stay at its present level and at best, more of the same mediocre tourists for years. Tourism will be neither here nor there. This is not what most Sabahan tourism players want. Sabah should and must seek to attract more tourists with higher spending power. The potential of high end market is there for Sabah. TAED can entice them to come to Sabah with its world class facilities. Take China as example. “According to China Tourism Research Institute, China had 120 million outbound visitors in 2015 and they spent 104.5 billion US dollars, increases of 12pc and 16.7pc compared with 2014.” The Chinese tourists, on individual basis, have become the biggest spenders in the world, having over taken the Americans and Germans. Most western countries are going all out to get into the Chinese tourists’ wallets. With China at our door step and we have many attractions that the Chinese will want to enjoy, why do we want to deprive ourselves of this opportunity? It does not need imagination that Sabah has a very long way to getting our fair shares of the Chinese tourism market. Good for Sabahans – Good for Tourists: I have always maintained that these two factors are not mutually exclusive of each other. In fact, they are like identical twins. The world class facilities in TAED are good for Sabahans and can be excellent attractions for tourists. A broad perspective is required to have a true appreciation of the TAED’s facilities. Firstly, the combined facilities within TAED hotels of various star rating, the top of which shall be a 6 star and other buildings combined with the enlarged/enhanced Prince Philip Park, improved 1.35 km pubic beach, marina, Greg Norman 18-hole golf course, nearby 9 holes Kinabalu Golf Course, Perdana Park, and Iconic State Library will be world class – as good as any in the world. There will be a free electric bus service for the public facilities – Prince Philip Park, beaches, retail outlets, water front promenade and cycle lanes. Secondly, all these facilities provide unique opportunities for recreation and equally important, for Sabahans and residents in KK to entertain and conduct business, especially with foreign businessmen. In Sabah, we tend to forget the importance of having conducive public facilities to conduct and promote business, especially with foreign businessmen and investors. Thirdly, TAED as Sabah’s first truly integrated tourism complex will give the critical impetus in promoting Sabah as a tourism destination. We need to remind ourselves that Sabah did not have a major tourism project for more than 20 years. TAED is long overdue. Fourthly, good class hotel rooms in TAED will add to Sabah achieving critical mass to cater for high end MICE groups. Recently, China’s biggest direct sale company wanted to bring in 10,000 persons for incentive. Musa had the unenviable task of telling them Sabah did not have enough rooms for them. Revenue lost can be as high as RM40 million for less than one week stay from this group alone! Imagine how many businesses will benefit from the cash injection of groups like this one. Fifthly, TAED will contribute to the expansion of Sabah’s GDP and better income for many Sabahans. Last not least, future generations of Sabahans will be proud of TAED. The name Tanjong Aru will acquire a new meaning, synonymous with world class facilities. All these are within minutes by car! The public facilities in TAED will be free. Potential Economic Impacts of Tanjong Aru Eco Development: Like Singapore’s Marina Bay Sand and other integrated tourism resorts, there are immediate and long term economic impacts of TAED. Also tangible and intangible ones too. The professionals [architects, engineers, QS etc], contractors, ready mix, brick manufacturers and building materials suppliers especially Sabah Cement Industry will receive immediate benefits from pre and during construction. TAED will create a building boom in KK. Some Sabah professionals after their involvement in TAED as local consultants will gain enough experience and credentials for them to venture outside Sabah. There are 5 hotels which will have about 1,800 rooms. There are already active expressions of interest from international hotel chains wanting to invest and/or manage these hotels. On average the hotels, when fully operational with good room occupancy will have of turnover of more than RM100 million and will generate some RM30m to RM40m profit at prevailing scenario. The multiplier effects from these financial figures will be very substantial. Each hotel will have 400 to 600 employees and executives. Total estimated turnover for the hotels: RM500 to RM600m Total estimated gross profit:RM150m to RM200m. Estimated employment: 2,000persons. For those parents who worry about children not finding jobs, here is your answer. For those who want more business opportunities, here is your answer. The indirect employment can be as much as 10,000 persons from the humble and often forgotten fishermen, vegetable/ fruit farmers, taxi drivers [including Uber!] to handicraft makers and many other trades. This what can happen with 1 successful TAED. Imagine if there are more. When fully operational, TAED’s capacity to generate cash flow into the Sabah economy can be RM1 billion or more each year. Owners of land that has tourism potentials will reap substantial appreciation in land value, too. Example is Bali where beach front property suitable for tourism can easily fetch RM10m an acre. It has happened in Bali. It can happen in KK. TAED’s roll down economic effects /spin offs will create far reaching economic benefits for a wide spectrum of Sabahans. TAED can show the way for Sabahans to start small/medium boutique hotels on beach front properties down south to Papar and up north to Paka Beach. TAED will attract some sizeable direct investments, especially in hotels. It will also spur other investments into Sabah when businessmen coming to TAED for MICE or holidays, will be encouraged by Sabah’s attractive investment opportunities. Singapore has this same experience in the early days. The Singapore Tourism Board, up to today, is under the Ministry of Trade and Industry. No tourism ministry there! TAED will attract more airlines to Kota Kinabalu. These airlines will fly in more FITs. For now, rooms and tourism facilities are the limiting factors for them. The first to response, I expect, will be the Chinese airlines. The rich Chinese will love Sabah if we have world class comforts to pamper and indulge them. Datuk Musa is Best Person to Drive TAED to Successful Completion: Unlike Government funded projects which have no commercial consideration. With an estimated cost of almost RM4 billion at today’s price will require a high degree of business acuity and political astuteness in sourcing/managing funding, to see it to its timely completion including attracting the right sort of investors for TAED. It’s a high-complexity project. Physical construction of TAED is only 30pc. Biggest challenge is to get it done within budget, achieve world class destination status and manage TAED successfully and profitably. Seeing TAED through to its successful completion is “no walk in the park”. With his business back ground and as the Chief Minister, the best person to drive TAED is Datuk Musa. Most Sabahans, especially those in tourism industry, are imbued with excitement that Datuk Musa is pushing ahead with TAED for it will change Sabah’s tourism landscape. Objections for the sake of objecting is unhealthy, damaging and regressive. The “negative” people to economic development like TAED are inflicting a great disservice to our society and future generations. Genuine concerned Sabahans can offer viable and constructive alternatives to make TAED better. TAED will be the forerunner of more employment, more economic/business opportunities, more family/social fulfilments. Future generations will be thankful for TAED’s windows of opportunities. TAED, scheduled to commence construction in 1st Q 2016, will be a remarkable milestone towards the realisation of the tourism pillar of Halatuju. This TAED initiative by Musa is creative, visionary and will become an enduring legacy for Sabah.

Third SEIA is self defeating for TAED as a sign of no go.

Friday, 1 July 2016 ‘Include NGOs on Tg Aru project evaluation panel’ by ruben sario KOTA KINABALU:

 A panel assessing the Special Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) report on the controversial Tanjung Aru beach mixed redevelopment project should include credible NGOs, an activist said.

 Save Open Space (SOS) NGO joint-coordinator S.M. Muthu said groups such as the Malaysian Nature Society and Sabah Environmental Protection Association should be on the panel. “We intend to scrutinise the report to ensure that whatever is done has minimum impact on the environment,” he told The Star.

 The project will be undertaken by state-owned Tanjung Aru Eco Development. Project manager Peter Adam said the report would be submitted to the Sabah Environmental Protection Department in September.

 Muthu said SOS had voiced its concerns over the reclamation of hundreds of hectares of beachfront and the creation of an artificial beach. Noting that Tanjung Aru beach was severely affected by erosion, he said the artificial beach would probably end up in a similar situation.

 “From what we understand, the reclaimed beach will not be sustainable and tonnes of sand will be needed to replenish that which is washed away. “The initial report on the project showed that as much as RM40mil is needed for the maintenance of the area and much of this is for the new beach area,” Muthu said.

 SOS and other NGOs have been urging the state government to scrap the project and instead concentrate on rehabilitating Prince Philip Park and the popular Tanjung Aru beach, and to ensure that it remained accessible to the public.

 The redevelopment, to be done over the next three years, will cover some 340ha

. It will include doubling the size of the historic park to about 30ha, with part of it transformed into a rainforest.

 Adam said the park – named after the Duke of Edinburgh, husband of Queen Elizabeth II – would include a promenade, walking and cycling tracks, and an ecology centre.

 He said work would begin early next year and be carried out over four phases, with completion expected in 2019.

 Adam said a 133ha golf retreat, featuring a Greg Norman-designed course, seven hotels with 1,800 rooms in total, as well as about 5,000 apartment and condominium units would also be built.

 A key feature would be a 6km-long and 42m-wide canal fronting the residential lots. “There will also be a 26ha retail and F&B area called Prince Philip Wharf, and a marina to berth up to 200 vessels,”

he added. Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai said the redevelopment of Tanjung Aru was necessary because the area had been eroding away since 1985.

WWF-Malaysia on TAED

WWF-M’sia airs concerns over DBKK’s Local Plan July 1, 2014, Tuesday Share this: Email KOTA KINABALU: World Wide Fund for Nature–Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia) is raising concern about the reclamation area and zoning for ‘Hotels & Resorts’ in Tanjung Aru Beach as shown in the the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) Local Plan 2020. The zoned area under ‘Hotels & Resorts’ as shown in the draft DBKK Local Plan for the Tanjung Aru beach area covers three areas on water. According to the Local Plan, there are zoned areas of seas which are outside the gazetted boundary. “Such zoning of the sea areas implies development involving reclamation might be allowed in the seas. WWF-Malaysia believes that coastal reclamation can affect the water table, the ground water, the salt water and freshwater interface, the inshore current systems and coastal morphology, the sea biota, the hydrodynamic of sediment transportation, and changes in oceanography which may have impacts as far out as the islands and reefs in and around Tunku Abdul Rahman Park,” said WWF-Malaysia executive director/CEO Dato’ Dr Dionysius Sharma. The Tanjung Aru beach area in Kota Kinabalu is an important green space for the public. Public parks and open spaces are vital for the quality of life and public health. Urban green space per capita is an important indicator for a sustainable and liveable city. WWF-Malaysia recognises the necessary right of the public’s enjoyment of the beach. Any development made must not interfere with the existing public access to the beach nor negatively affect the beach. Public access should be readily available and not be overly burdensome. The latest Tanjung Aru Eco Development (TAED) plan shows that the beach is proposed to be widened to at least 50 metres (m) at high tide from the current 9m. According to TAED executive director Datuk Victor Paul, the beach has previously lost 60m to 70m to erosion over the past 50 years. “It would be important to examine the evidence and record of the erosion to date to identify possible causes. If the extent of the erosion in the past is true, how would the developers ensure that erosion will not wash away the reclaimed beach in the future? Another important factor to this development is the sourced sand in the beach and possible impacts it may cause at the sand mining site.” said Dr Sharma. “Transparency of the development is important to the public. As part of the concerned citizens of Sabah, WWF-Malaysia urges for more public briefings and consultations towards the reclamation area and zoning of Tanjung Aru beach. WWF-Malaysia strongly urges for sustainable development of the Tanjung Aru beach. Let us advocate for sustainable living and live together in harmony with nature,” added Dr Sharma. Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/07/01/wwf-msia-airs-concerns-over-dbkks-local-plan/#ixzz4D9tXD8kd