KOTA KINABALU: Kawang Assemblyman Datuk Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar proposed that Pekan Kinarut be upgraded into a sub-district.
“It is high time for the State Government, especially the Local Government and Housing Ministry, to seriously study this proposal under the 12th Malaysia Plan, since Pekan Kinarut meets the justification of being a sub-district despite its location on the State Capital outskirts,” he said.
He said this when debating the 2021 State Budget at the State Legislative Assembly sitting here, Monday.
“Based on the latest development, Kinarut is qualified and meets the criteria to be an administrative centre. Therefore, I would like to reiterate the request for the State Government to study the potential of Pekan Kinarut to be upgraded into a sub-district,” he said.
He also noted mega projects that will change the development landscape of the area, citing the KK Resort City resort-tourism project in the Kinarut bay area.
He said its location in the city outskirts will further strengthen development and socio-economy in the area.
“We hope the Sabah Housing and Town Development Authority (LPPB) refines the proposal to develop Pekan Kinarut, together with the proposed infrastructure development for the other seven new towns, including Pulau Banggi, Kudat, Paitan (Beluran), Sukau (Kinabatangan) and Sook (Keningau).
“As a suburban area, Pekan Kinarut in the Kawang Constituency is currently undergoing rapid development transformation.
“It has many new buildings, commercial centres, as well as housing and industrial areas. Similarly, in terms of population, the number is increasing due to the existence of new housing areas,” he said.
Many new buildings, commercial centers, housing and industry around Kinarut area. Similarly, in terms of population, the number is increasing due to the existence of new housing areas.
“Therefore, we hope the State Government examines in detail the proposed development of several villages in Dun Kawang to be developed by the residents to increase the productivity of agricultural products,” he said.
He also talked in length about agriculture potential in Kawang and hoped the government will expedite the approval of 330 acres of grazing reserve land by the Land Development Meeting to be distributed to over 2,000 residents in Kg Kawang and Kg Beringis.
“The proposal was initially for distribution in the form of communal grants, but the previous State Government adopted a new approach to replace communal grants with individual grants.
“I thus hope the government will approve the residents’ application to obtain individual grants or as village reserve land,” he said.
He also talked about the increased traffic along Jalan Pengalat – Lok Kawi resulting in congestion up to KM8 starting from Kg Pengalat to the Pekan Baru Lok Kawi roundabout.
He said the congestion can be minimised with the construction of two-lane roads which was announced during the Federal 2017 Budget.
“This however has yet to be implemented and thus I hope it can be expedited to resolve traffic congestion in Kinarut,” he said.
Apart from that, he also spoke about the urgent need for the Papar Sports Complex to be constructed, noting that the proposed site has been identified at Kg Beringis Papar on March 15, 2017.
“Currently, sports activities including Papar level School Sports Council activities are conducted at the Beaufort or Penampang Sports Complex, taking up expenses,” he said.
In addition, he proposed for the construction of Sekolah Agama Negeri in Kg Kawang and Kg Beringgis to ensure local children can seize the opportunity to further their studies at Sekolah Menengah Agama Negeri Toh Puan Hajah Rahmah and SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha next to the Sabah State Tahfiz Al-Quran Institution.
He proposed the urgent need to deepen Sungai Kawang and Sungai Kinarut as means of addressing frequent flash floods in the area.
“Residents have raised their concern over the matter numerous times and I hope something can be done to resolve flash flood issues,” he said.-pr/BNN
