KOTA KINABALU: Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir yesterday denied the allegation by a non-government organisation (NGO) that the Prince Philip Park and Tanjung Aru Beach would be closed to implement the Tanjung Aru Eco Development or TAED.
He said the two sites would be maintained as public recreation grounds and it would undergo further upgrading and would be expanded.
He said the allegations arose after the City Hall showed the 2020 Kota Kinabalu Local Plan to the public as the plan has indicated that the area has been zoned for tourism development.
He said what was exhibited did not show the intricate details of the plan.
The new plan maintains the Prince Phillip Park and the Tanjung Aru Beach as a public domain and would not be closed to the public, he said after launching the City Hall 2014 Labour Day Celebration held at Dewan Bandaraya near here yesterday.
“The allegation that it would be closed is untrue,” he said.
Abidin said they haven’t finalised the detailed plan yet as it requires public consultation and they will submit the plan to the central board for its consideration once the consultation has been done.
Once the central board gives its nod to the plan, it will be submitted to the State Government for consideration, he said.
Meanwhile, a total of 144 rejection forms have been received by the City Hall since the plan was unvealed on May 8.
“But not all of the forms are focused on objecting the plan. There are also proposals and feedback,” he said.
He said the deadline for the exhibition ends on May 22, but the City Hall would continue to be open to ideas, comments and objections as the City Hall wants to hear from the public.
“Every matter that is raised will be evaluated to improve the 2020 Kota Kinabalu Local Plan,” he said.
Meanwhile, the City Hall celebrated 37 of its retired personnel during the event yesterday.
Abidin said there were 18 personnel who have worked with the City Hall for over 25 years as at May 1, 2014.
He said 495 people received the 2014 City Hall Excellent Service certificate.