By Yussof J. Imbang
KINABATANGAN: The town of Kota Kinabatangan is actively working towards achieving the Sustainable City Transformation as part of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Plan.
Datuk Masiung Banah, the Chairman of the Housing and Town Development Authority (LPPB), stated that the RM366 million New City Mega Project is set to usher in a new era of economic growth and sustainable development along Sabah’s east coast.
He made these remarks while accompanying Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor during the inauguration ceremony of the mega project at the Kota Kinabatangan Town Open Terminal Square on Tuesday.
Masiung noted that the 154.48-acre mixed development is being executed through a strategic partnership between Sunmow Construction Sdn Bhd and the Kinabatangan District Council.
The project will be carried out in three phases and is expected to take 15 years to complete.
He emphasized that this high-impact initiative will serve as a new economic catalyst for the residents of Kinabatangan, particularly in the Lamag area.
According to Masiung, recognizing Kinabatangan’s potential in the tourism sector, a four-star, 13-storey hotel with 200 rooms will be constructed as part of the project.
The New Town Area of Seri Milian will also feature tourism information centers, commercial centers, sports complexes, public housing, district council buildings, mosques, petrol stations, and food courts.
In a related development, the Housing and Urban Development Authority (LPPB) has also initiated the SMJ development program in Beluran, which includes the construction of 16 commercial buildings at a cost of RM1.1568 million.
Additionally, LPPB has constructed 20 units of affordable housing in the first phase near Beluran town.
The LPPB chairman officiated the groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the proposed commercial buildings yesterday afternoon, alongside Assistant Minister of Rural City and Labuk People’s Representative Datuk Samad Jamri.
Also in attendance at the groundbreaking ceremony were Telupid People’s Representative Datuk Johnnybone J. Kurum and LPPB General Manager Rosemay Ahping.
