PENAMPANG: Parti Warisan’s Penampang Division has urged the State Government and the Penampang Municipal Council (MPP) to inspect the structural integrity of upper-level exterior glass windows at Beverly Hills Plaza following complaints from shopowners over potential safety risks.
The division also called on the authorities to address the neglected drainage system at nearby Bundusan Plaza, where stagnant water and foul odours have become a concern.
Nosoob 2 Polling District Centre (PDM) Coordinator Clarence Chong said his team received numerous complaints during a routine inspection of commercial areas on June 25.
“During our inspection of Beverly Hills Plaza, we found the area to be generally well maintained and cleaner than other commercial areas we have visited in Kapayan.
“However, shopowners alerted us to a hidden danger involving the upper-level glass windows. They informed us that a glass panel recently fell onto the ground.
Fortunately, no one was using the five-foot walkway at the time,” he said.
Clarence said a damaged glass frame was also spotted above Happy Wash Laundry, raising concerns that more glass could fall during strong winds and injure pedestrians or damage parked vehicles.
He urged the MPP to deploy its safety officers to inspect all upper-level glass panels at the plaza and determine whether they pose a risk to the public.
Clarence was accompanied during the inspection by Nosoob 2 PDM Chief Sam Pang, Penampang Division Chief Jeffrey Leiking, Central Strategic Communications Director Christopher Masudal, Wanita Division Chief Junny C. Simol and members of the Wanita wing.
Meanwhile, Junny urged the State Government and local authorities to carry out a thorough inspection of the drainage system at Bundusan Plaza, describing it as dilapidated and foul-smelling, especially after rainfall.
“Our Wanita wing found stagnant water in the drains. The monsoon drain has become a breeding ground for pests, including a young monitor lizard,” she said.
She said the presence of the reptile, which was feeding on food waste trapped in the drain, indicated that the drainage system was no longer functioning properly.
Junny also criticised the practice of covering exposed drains with wooden planks, stones and rattan furniture, saying it created an unsightly environment and reflected poorly on the maintenance of the district’s commercial areas.
She urged the Department of Irrigation and Drainage and the Public Works Department to carry out regular maintenance to ensure the drainage system remains functional.
