Kota Kinabalu: DAP’s Kota Kinabalu Member of Parliament Chang Foong Hin urged City Hall (DBKK) to conduct a townhall session to explain the rationale behind the closure of the Tun Fuad Stephens Park in Bukit Padang for two years, starting next week.
“Why not a partial closure instead of closing down the whole park for two years? he asked.
The RM20 million park upgrading proposal, he said, was made during Barisan Nasional rule prior to 2018, but the approval, funding and appointment of contractor was only made recently by the Federal Government.
“There were also no objections by the Sabah Government, either by Warisan or GRS.”
Chan said he welcomed the redevelopment of the public park to a botanical garden but that the details need to be disclosed.
“The public have every right to know how the federal allocation of RM20 million is being spent. There are also concerns of the environmental impact following the project execution...these are genuine concerns of everyone.”
There is no need for the entire 44.13 acres to be closed entirely for the whole two years, he said, although the restaurants and the hawkers are allowed to continue their business as usual.
“However, with jogging and all other leisure activities being prohibited in the area, basically it defeats the purpose of allowing such commercial activities as there will be no one around.”
“DBKK and the contractor cannot expect the complaints to go away without giving any details.
“Perhaps the contractor can explain to the public whether upgrades to all parts of the park will be carried out simultaneously.
“Will there be a safety hazard with the ongoing construction, noise or air pollution which makes the entire place not suitable for jogging, etc,” Chan said.
