Kota Kinabalu: Investigation on irregularities concerning the controversial development of five open spaces in Sabindo, Tawau, will be carried out soon.Local Government and Housing Minister, Datuk Hajiji Mohd Noor said the developers have already been served with a "stop work order" letter from the State government on Monday.
"We have received the report and also served the letter (to the developers concerned) a few days ago (on Monday)," he said to reporters after the opening of the state level Integrated Capacity Building Towards Urban Poverty Eradication at Beverly Hotel, here, Thursday.
Hajiji officiated at the opening on behalf of Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman who is on weeklong leave. He said the developers ought to adhere to the government's directive since it has already been decided at the State Cabinet meeting last week.
According to him, the letter could not be sent to the developers on Friday since it was a public holiday in conjunction with Head of State Tun Ahmadshah Abdullah's birthday.
"(Hence), I think the matter is already settled but it (investigation) will be carried out soon," he said in reference to his statement last week that the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) is free to investigate the matter.
The development project in Sabindo was initially undertaken by the Tawau Municipal Council (TMC) and a private company under an agreement signed in 1996.
However, government policy stipulates that open spaces should not be developed for commercial purposes, more so in the Sabindo area where parking spaces are lacking.
Hajiji said recently the open spaces should be safeguarded and maintained for public use.
Last Sunday, developers used zinc sheets to fence up the area concerned, which is usually used by locals every Sunday to sell their farm produce.
