Thursday, August 14, 2003

Sandakan Harbour project kicks off

Utusan Malaysia
14-8-2003

SANDAKAN Aug 13 - Work on the RM240-million Sandakan Harbour Square project officially started Wednesday, less than two years from the date it was first proposed.

An official ceremony at a jetty near the existing central market at the waterfront signalled the start of the work which involves the demolition, site clearance, site reclamation and construction of seawalls.

The symbolic act in drilling away the concrete jetty in order to make way for the project was officiated by the member of parliament for Sandakan, Datuk Lau Ngan Siew.

It was witnessed by a large crowd, including the Sandakan Municipal Council (SMC) president, Datuk Adeline Leong, and deputy president (II), Datuk Thomas Lau.

Land reclamation works and settlement will take 18 months to complete.

Leong said the Sandakan Harbour Square project would be carried out in four phases.

Phase 1 will include reclaiming nine acres of land from the sea to add to the existing three acres, and the building of a new jetty and new and modern central market to replace the existing old market built more than 50 years ago.

There will also be a three-storey circular sea-level annex for a seafood restaurant.

The 61 shop-offices will comprise 29 three-storey units and 32 four-storey units with varying floor sizes. The shop offices in this phase are scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2006.

Leong said Phase 2 would commence when market traders were relocated to the new market and the old market would then be demolished to make way for the building of the Phase 2 shophouses and Phase 3 retail/carpark complex.

Phase 3 will commence concurrently with or, shortly after, certain parts of Phase 1 which will include the retail/carpark complex, the Sandakan Harbour Mall.

Phase 4 has yet to be finalised but it will include a five-star hotel.

The project is being undertaken by the Sandakan Municipal Council as the landowner in a joint venture with the developer, Ireka-Charng Sheng Development Sdn Bhd.

Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange-listed Ireka Corporation Bhd holds 60 percent equity in the joint venture company while Sabah-based construction/development company Syarikat Charng Sheng Sdn Bhd holds the remaining equity of 40 percent.

"In other words, the council provides the land while Ireka-Charng Sheng designs, finances, builds and sells the commercial properties," said Leong.

The council will own and operate the new central market and fish jetty and the new town Harbour Square and other public areas.

Leong said: "It is also part of the council's efforts to transform Sandakan into a Nature City by the year 2004."

Ireka-Charng Sheng Development Sdn Bhd joint managing director, Lai Voon Hon said the project had helped the Ireka Group to gain a significant foothold in East Malaysia. It is already undertaking a housing project in Kota Kinabalu, the state capital.

Friday, August 08, 2003

MAS adakan penerbangan ke Sulawesi Utara

Utusan Malaysia
8-8-2003

KUALA LUMPUR 7 Ogos - Malaysia Airlines (MAS) akan mengadakan penerbangan ke Manado di Sulawesi Utara, Indonesia melalui Kota Kinabalu mulai 14 Ogos ini, demikian menurut syarikat penerbangan kebangsaan itu hari ini.

Manado akan menjadi destinasi Indonesia kelapan bagi syarikat penerbangan ini selepas Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya, Denpasar, Pontianak, Tarakan dan Balikpapan.

Perkhidmatan itu yang berdasarkan perkongsian kod dengan Garuda Indonesia, akan dilakukan dua kali seminggu iaitu pada setiap hari Khamis dan Ahad.

Malaysia Airlines akan menggunakan pesawat dua kelas Boeing 737-400 dengan 16 tempat duduk kelas perniagaan dan 128 kelas ekonomi untuk perkhidmatan itu.

Friday, August 01, 2003

Sabah keeps open mind on Federal proposal to manage water resources

Press Release

1 August, 2003

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah State Government will keep an open mind on the proposal for the Federal Government to take over the administration of water management of all states by the end of this year.


Speaking to reporters at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport on his return from Kuala Lumpur today, Chief Minister Datuk Haji Musa Aman said presently the State Government was finalizing discussions with a private firm, Ranhill, for a comprehensive water management system for Sabah.


" The discussions with Ranhill are proceeding well, and it is my hope that the State Cabinet will be able to reach a final decision on the matter by year’s end," Musa said.


Musa said if an amicable agreement could be reached with Ranhill, then the State Government would proceed with its own water management system.


" However, if a final agreement cannot be reached, and if we feel it is beyond our capacity to manage our water resources efficiently, then we can consider the proposal to turn over the administration of our water resources to the Federal Government. We will keep an open mind on the matter," Musa said.


Musa said the State Government was owing closing to RM 600 million to the four water concessionaires in Sabah who presently treat and supply water to the government for distribution to consumers. The Government, however, is unable to match revenue with costs incurred because it is saddled with an inefficient distribution system inherited from pre-independence days, with non-revenue water losses of around fifty percent.


" It is a heavy burden, and we must find a resolution to this problem quickly," he said.


Under the Malaysian Constitution water resources come under the purview of the individual states of the Federation. The proposal for the Federal.Government to take over the administration of water management from the state’s was made because a number of states in Peninsular Malaysia have run out of water resources or do not have the financial means to manage their water resources efficiently due to the demands of development.


The proposal, however, has received a mixed reaction from the different states. Some, like Pulau Pinang, support the proposal. Pahang is non-commital, while Kelantan has rejected it outright. A few other states have said there is a need for careful study of the proposal before proceeding to adopt it for implementation.