KOTA KINABALU: DAP Sabah is hoping the proposed Gaur Eco-City to be constructed in Kadamaian will not be used to quietly revive the Tambatuon Dam project.
According to DAP Sabah secretary Dr Edwin Bosi, Malaysia’s first eco-city called Gaur Eco-City in Kadamaian in Kota Belud is not surprising since the government has decided not to go ahead with the Tambatuon dam.
The Guar Eco-city which is expected to cost RM15 billion, is designed to affect more than 5,000 acres of undulating land and 20 villages along the foothills of Mount Kinabalu, he said, adding that facilities such cable cars, monorails and integrated transport around a man-made lake with an ambiance of Venice, dotted with hotels, housing, hospital and a golf course are similar to that aired when justifying for the Tambatuon dam.
The other facilities that have been reported are the F1 standard motor race track, three universities, sports city, education hub and business hub.
“I am a little skeptical of such gigantic development in Kadamaian when even our basic infrastructure, road and electricity are in such a sorry state. While such development is viewed positively, the rakyat, especially in Tambatuon, hope that this project is not a ‘backdoor’ to revive the Tambatuon dam.
“Is there a connection between the Tambatuon Dam and Gaur Eco-city? We remember that the government failed to undertake an environmental impact assessment or EIA for the Tambatuon Dam,” he said.
Dr Edwin said from what was reported in the press, a feasibility study would be launched on February 18 and if all went well, the tendering of works was expected to be called by April and it would be up and running by the fifth year of construction.
“The question is how could an EIA for a development undertaking of this size be completed in three months? I sincerely hope that Enviro Enhance Sdn Bhd, the consultant firm for Gaur Eco-City, would be transparent on the EIA report. The transparency of the company will go a long way to get the support of everyone in Sabah,” he said.