Sabah Towns to Be ‘Liveable’ Cities Says, Musa
responsibility not only in
preparing the guideline to be
used but also assessing their
practicality.
Brunei and East Malaysia
Connectivity Boosted With
New Bridge
The department, he
suggested, should also
study and learn from the
standards and approaches
that have been adopted
by advanced cities in other
countries.
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
The State Government is
committed to turn all towns
in Sabah into “liveable cities”
that are comfortable and
welcoming to the dwellers,
said Chief Minister Datuk Seri
Musa Aman.
Liveable city is the people’s
dream and making it a
reality is not just a vision
but a responsibility of the
government, he said.
He noted that the Federal
Government had in its
2014 National Budget also
emphasized on living quality
of the people, including
by incorporating green
technologies in its future
development plans. An
allocation of RM15 million in
initial funding was provided
to encourage green and
environmental friendly
development.
“For us in the State
Government, we fully
support and welcome the
initiative and commitment
by Prime Minister Datuk
Seri Najib Razak,” Musa said
in his speech at a Planning
Seminar held in conjunction
with World Town Planning
2013 here, yesterday.
The text of his speech
was delivered by Local
Government and Housing
Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor.
Musa said the Government’s
seriousness in creating
a comfortable living
environment for the people
could be seen in many of
its development projects,
including the recently
completed Sabah Art Gallery
(SAG).
The SAG was the first
certified Green Building
in Sabah, setting a new
standard to be emulated by
developers for their future
projects.
“Apart from that, we have
also launched the EcoDevelopment Project in
Tanjung Aru, which was
launched personally by the
Prime Minister himself,” he
said.
The Chief Minister also said
the local authorities (PBT)
play a vital role and should
lead in the government’s
effort to create liveable cities,
by adopting a clear standard
and preparing a detailed
development planning for
their respective towns.
The Urban and Regional
Planning Department,
he added, has a huge
“The Urban and Regional
Planning Department is in
the process of reviewing the
planning standard, as part
of its effort to ensure today’s
planning meets the needs
and taste of the people,”
he said, commending
the department for its
commitment towards the
Liveable City vision.
He also called on all parties,
including developers, to form
strategic joint ventures for
a more coordinated and
effective development.
He said this was important
to ensure that every
development project would
contribute towards achieving
liveable city, to create
conducive, safe and rich
living environment for the
people.
The long wait to cross
the Pandaruan river
finally came to an end
with the opening of a
new bridge connecting
both ends of two
neighbouring countries,
Brunei Darussalam and
Malaysia, this morning.
Aptly named as the
Jambatan Persahabatan
(Friendship Bridge), the
RM20.8 million bridge
which connects the
Borneo and Sarawak
border at Pandaruan,
was jointly officiated
by Brunei Sultan Haji
Hassanal Bolkiah
and Malaysian Prime
Minister Datuk Seri
Mohd Najib Abdul Razak.
With the construction
of the189 meter bridge,
motorists need not wait
for four to five hours
during peak hours just
to cross the Pandaruan
river with the ferry. With
the new bridge, Malaysia
and Brunei hope to
foster closer relationship
and see increase in
economic activities
such as tourism and
business. The bride also
marks a historical point
as it is the last stretch
to connect the PanBorneo highway which
runs for more than
2000km from Kuching
in Sarawak , through
Brunei Darussalam to
Tawau, Sabah.
Brunei and Malaysia
signed the agreement to
construct the bridge on
12th September 2011
and it was completed by
a Malaysian contractor
, Perkerjaan Piasau
Konkerit Sdn Bhd in 15
months. The cost of the
bridge was jointly shared
by both countries and
the construction of the
roads on each side were
borne by individual
countries.
The event was also
attended by Sarawak
Chief Minister Pehin
Sri Haji Abdul Taib
Mahm Ր