Group seeks to prevent building near historic clock tower

Tuesday, 03 January 2012 18:48

KOTA KINABALU: A group of concerned citizens calling themselves Heritage Sabah is not in favour of some of the property development’s in the city, believing that the projects will erode Kota Kinabalu’s proud history.

The group, which is against the building of an unpopular commercial project next to the historical Atkinson Clock Tower, submitted its objections to the city’s Local Draft Plan 2020 during Kota Kinabalu City Hall’s public consultation period recently.

Among their chief concerns is the zoning of the Atkinson Clock Tower and its surrounding area, consisting of the Town Padang, Australia Place, KK Community Hall and Gaya Street, into a commercial zone.

“It would be wiser to consider re-zoning this area as a historical preservation district,” said local heritage advocate Richard Nelson Sokial, who is also Heritage Sabah’s spokesperson.

“Having a historical preservation district adds more variety and interest to our city, which will be 113 years old in 2012,” Sokial said.

He said a conscious effort is needed from the local authorities to preserve the history of Kota Kinabalu, which was established as Jesselton township in 1899.

“A city that neglects its historical sites and buildings loses a lot of its attractions,” he said.

Sokial also added that, during the recent Sabah Planning Standards Workshop, Heritage Sabah called for special controls for all known historical sites and buildings in order to ensure their integrity and intrinsic value would not be compromised by uncontrolled commercial development.

“If you want the people of Sabah to love Kota Kinabalu, please protect our city’s history.”

The group represented by activist Jefferi Chang also attended City Hall’s meet-the-clients session to follow up on whether Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir would reject the plan to construct a 16-storey building next to the Atkinson Clock Tower.

However, the mayor’s response that he would be seeking further details from the state town planning department regarding the status of the project was short of what the group wanted to hear.

“Seeking further details from the state town planning authorities shows that City Hall is relying on the state Town and Regional Planning Department for advice when in fact they have their own Town Planning Department and a City Planning Committee that approved the plan,” said Sokial.

“From what we understand, the only body other than City Hall itself to go to for advice should be the Central Town and Country Planning Board,” he said.

Heritage Sabah acknowledged that the new mayor had inherited critical issues that need to be resolved for the good of Kota Kinabalu and its residents.

“We hope he will make the right decision for the Atkinson Clock Tower, the city’s oldest historical monument, and not be pressured to be a rubber stamp for people in high places,” Sokial said.

From The Star