By: Stringer

KOTA KINABALU: Residents of Kampung Muhibbah Lama, Petagas are pleading for a win-win situation out of a planned 12-storey development in the middle of the village.

According to one of the residents, Sharif Rais Sarif Baba, 70, an approval letter had been issued in 2021 for a mixed development project on a two-acre land in the area, after the land was bought by a company in 2010.

Sharif said the surrounding residents were only notified of the project around three weeks ago, when the developers came into the village to clear the land and gave a 30-days notice for five affected houses to be emptied.

He expressed dismay that the developers had never consulted the villagers on this project until recently, while raising concerns that the development would cause various issues such as congestion and sewage problems.

His son, Sharif Aeman Azhari Raziz, 25, claims to have had pursued four proper channels to address their predicament.

Some of the residents had met Putatan Member of Parliament (MP) and Tanjung Keramat assemblyman Datuk Ir Shahelmey Yahya at his office, and subsequently, he came down to the village to inspect the area. 

In a Facebook conversation shared by one of the villagers, Shahelmey had informed that the development had been approved by the Putatan District Council some time ago and the development plan cannot be cancelled.

However, the Deputy Chief Minister assured that his side will ensure that all comments are taken into account and set development conditions such as in terms of sewerage, traffic and safety will be adhered to.

Sharif informed that a recent meeting between the developers and the residents did not end in a win-win situation for both sides.

He acknowledged that generations of families have built houses and resided nearby the land following a verbal agreement with the first owner, but they still should have been consulted way earlier instead of being suddenly forced into an ultimatum.

A lawyer from the developers had informed that they were trespassing or built illegal structures on the Commercial Land (CL).

“We acknowledge that we have built up houses near the land, but I believe that we at least should have been informed of the development 15 years ago when they bought over the land instead of only now.

“Many of us have been living here for decades and we are seeking a win-win solution, whether the development follows the existing perimeter of the houses or if we have to leave, maybe give us some compensation,” he told reporters near the project site on Thursday.

Perikatan Nasional (PN) Penampang Youth chief, Kanny Chew Ly Choi questioned whether the development had obtained all the necessary approvals, considering it is situated in an airport red zone with a planned height of 12 floors.

According to information, approvals had been obtained in seven sectors including from the Fire and Rescue Department, Putatan District Council and Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), he said.

Kanny said the development is planned to be carried out within three years, but around 100 villagers are against the project, while some 30 houses are expected to be affected.

He added that the villagers plan to send an objection letter to the Chief Minister very soon.

“I am asking for the relevant parties to have empathy for the affected residents, especially those whose houses will be demolished in the near future.

“We are not blocking developments, but we need our MP, district council and the developer to cooperate with the villagers so they can continue to live in peace,” he said.

United Malays National Organisation (Umno) Putatan chief Jeffrey Nor also noted that the land in question is privately owned, but expressed concerns since the planned development is smack dab in the middle of the village.

Jeffrey said the land is dead landlocked, meaning there is no way out, as he cast suspicions on how the surrounding traffic flow would be impacted.

“We need to understand that Kampung Muhibbah Lama has existed for a long time and it holds sentimental value, so this issue needs to be solved as fast as possible.

“Developers cannot just come in and simply carry out developments without at least talking to and obtain approval from the nearby residents first,” he said.

His lawyer, he said, has been tasked to look at the matter from the legal aspects, and his side will do its best to help the affected residents.

“We also want the district to be developed, but it must follow the mold and culture of the communities in Putatan,” he said.