'No joint consensus to fast track the approvals of DPs'
Published on: Thursday, August 27, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: Several expert bodies said there had been no joint consensus on the content of a joint memorandum on plans to fast track the approvals of Development Plans from the Local Government and Housing Ministry. The Malaysian Architect Association (PAM), Sabah chapter of the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM), Consulting Engineers Association (ACEM) and the Sabah Law Association said in a joint statement here that the said memorandum had been prepared and submitted to the ministry by the Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (Shareda) alone. And this was contrary to media reports that Shareda together with PAM, IEM, ACEM and SLA had collectively drafted and submitted the said joint memorandum to the Minister at the Shareda dinner last July 31, they said.
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Chairman of PAM Sabah Chapter Jebb Liew said the Chapter is not against the proposed improvement of the delivery system in respect of the approval of Development Plan. "We are in favour of the proposed "Fast Track" approach but it needs to be in accordance to the planning ordinance, which is the Town & Country Planning Ordinance (Sabah CAP 141) and the Local Government Ordinance as the joint memorandum is still a draft at this stage," he said. PAM Sabah Chapter, ACEM Sabah Branch and IEM Sabah Branch advised that all local plans be gazetted as soon as possible so that the development plan approval process can be expedited without referring to the Central Board.SLA President Brenndon Soh said it was not appropriate for SLA to participate in the drafting of the joint memorandum due to a potential conflict of interest as they are working on the Law Revision involving this area together with the State Attorney General's Chambers.
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"Once the proposed law revision is finalised, the various industry stakeholders would be briefed and consulted accordingly," he said. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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While they recognise the initiative of industry players such as Shareda to raise and propose improvements with the appropriate authorities, they said it would be prudent if express consent of all parties is obtained before making any official announcement.
