Intellectuals meet over Sepanggar
Published on: Saturday, March 24, 2018
SEPANGGAR: Intellectuals from various higher learning institutions here have put their brains together to make the Sepanggar Consultative Council an effective platform to strategically plan Sepanggar's next development processes.Led by Prof Datuk Dr Kassim Mansur who acts as chief adviser, the intellectuals held initial discussion on Thursday during which they underlined current issues and challenges regarding the area's development. Among the issues and challenges highlighted were traffic congestion, development activities which lack planning, squatters, pollution and problems relating to the community, neighbourhoods as well as security.
ADVERTISEMENT
The intellectuals unanimously agreed that in order to resolve the issues and challenges, there is a need for a creative approach through a smart partnership among the key stakeholders, namely the community leaders, industry players and intellectuals.They also agreed that the idea to establish the Consultative Council is timely.The idea was mooted by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Rahman Dahlan as a platform to plan development in Sepanggar and fully tap its potential.When announcing it recently, the Kota Belud MP, who is widely tipped to be the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate to defend the Sepanggar parliamentary seat in the coming general election, said although City Hall (DBKK) had plans for the district, specific development planning was required for it to complement Kota Kinabalu's growth.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Unlike other areas, Sepanggar is unique because it has power generator, independent power plant, port, university, etc."The Sepanggar Consultative Council will be a platform to gather ideas and views on Sepanggar's development, specifically, and Kota Kinabalu, as a whole," he reportedly said. He had also said members of the council would comprise intellectuals from institutions of higher learning, industry players and local community leaders.
ADVERTISEMENT
Also discussed by the intellectuals were the economic aspects, entrepreneurship as well as Sepanggar's huge potential to become one of the State's main economic hubs and tourist destination.They were convinced that Sepanggar's biggest economic prospect must be based on policy and zoning plans with vision towards ensuring optimum real estate value and a balanced physical development in the future.Meanwhile, the group agreed to form a temporary working committee headed by Dr Kassim who is a Sepanggar native from Kg Rampayan.He now heads four main clusters covering economic affairs, physical and infrastructures, the local environment, social and wellbeing. Also heading the social and wellbeing cluster is Associate Prof Dr Gusni Saat, also a Sepanggar native from Kg Gantisan.Among the committee's initial discussion is on the need to carry out a research to map out Sepanggar and come up with a comprehensive database on the district's profile. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
