Ewon highlights progress of high-impact projects in Penampang since 2023
Ewon officiating the Penampang district-level Kaamatan festival.
KOTA KINABALU (May 19): Various high-impact development projects have been and are being implemented in Penampang since 2023, according to Penampang Member of Parliament (MP) Datuk Ewon Benedick.
Among the key initiatives is the long-delayed flood mitigation project in Donggongon, involving the deepening and expansion of the main drainage ditch, which is now actively underway.
'We are also improving the governance of flood disaster management after the major flood in Penampang last year,' he said.
Despite the district's longstanding flood issues, it has only one temporary evacuation centre.
'To address this, we've identified 21 public buildings that can be gazetted as temporary evacuation centres. It's impractical to relocate villagers from areas like Kampung Sugud and Kampung Kolopis to the Penampang Cultural Centre during emergencies,' he added.
Ewon made these remarks while officiating the Penampang district-level Kaamatan festival at Buhavan Square, Donggongon, yesterday.
Other ongoing projects include the Terian-Buayan road upgrading, construction of the long-delayed Tamu Donggongon, Babagon bridge construction, and the Kampung Togudon land survey under the Pantas programme.
'The land ownership issues in Kampung Togudon, unresolved for decades, have finally been addressed,' he noted.
Residents of Mukim Babagon, who relied on a low-level crossing, will soon benefit from a new concrete bridge. Meanwhile, the long-awaited Terian-Buayan road upgrade is also progressing.
Ewon added that the Penampang District Council was upgraded to a Municipal Council last year, further signifying administrative progress.
As the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) Minister, Ewon has also bolstered local economic infrastructure by opening a KUSKOP office in Penampang. This includes service upgrades at the Bank Rakyat branch, and the establishment of Tekun Nasional, InSKEN Sabah, SME Corp Sabah, an MSME hub, and the TikTok Shop Live Hub Studio.
He highlighted several new KUSKOP initiatives benefiting local entrepreneurs, such as the Sabah and Sarawak Bumiputera Entrepreneur Grant (Beep Plus), Tamu Entrepreneurs Financing Scheme, Tamu Desa Premises Project, Sejati Madani Cooperative Programme and the TUBE grant.
'In just two and a half years, we've seen meaningful development, not just in infrastructure but in economic initiatives too,' he said.
Ewon emphasized the need for comprehensive planning to ensure Penampang's inclusion in the Thirteenth Malaysia Plan (13MP) 2026–2030. The Penampang Development Master Plan, launched in 2023, serves as a crucial reference for Federal and State governments and relevant ministries.
'I'm grateful to all involved in making Penampang's development a reality. While challenges remain, we remain committed,' he said, adding that he hopes the Kaamatan celebration continues to be a unifying platform for the people of Penampang.
Also present at the event were Kapayan assemblywoman Jannie Lasimbang and Penampang Municipal Council president Francis Chong.
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