Latest news with #PutatanDistrictCouncil
Borneo Post
15-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Villagers demand fair solution over 12-storey development in Petagas
KOTA KINABALU (May 15): Residents of Kampung Muhibbah Lama, Petagas are pleading for a win-win outcome regarding a planned 12-storey development in the heart of their village. According to Sharif Rais Sarif Baba, 70, approval for the mixed development project on a two-acre plot was granted in 2021, over a decade after the land was purchased by a private company in 2010. However, the community was only notified of the development roughly three weeks ago, when developers began clearing the land and issued a 30-day notice for five houses to be vacated. Sharif voiced frustration that the villagers were not consulted earlier and raised concerns about potential problems such as traffic congestion and sewage issues. His son, Sharif Aeman Azhari Raziz, 25, said they had pursued four official channels to address their concerns. Some residents had also met with Putatan Member of Parliament and Tanjung Keramat assemblyman Datuk Ir Shahelmey Yahya, who later visited the site. In a Facebook message shared by a villager, Shahelmey confirmed that the project had long been approved by the Putatan District Council and could not be halted. However, he promised that authorities would ensure the developer meets all requirements related to sewerage, traffic and safety. Sharif stated that a recent meeting between the developers and villagers failed to reach a mutually agreeable outcome. He explained that families had lived on and around the land for generations, based on a verbal agreement with the previous landowner. He criticized the lack of early communication, saying affected families deserved either fair compensation or adjustments to the project boundary to preserve their homes. A lawyer representing the developers claimed the villagers had built illegal structures on Commercial Land (CL), but residents argue they should have been informed much earlier. Perikatan Nasional (PN) Penampang Youth chief Kanny Chew Ly Choi questioned whether the necessary permits were properly obtained, considering the site's location within an airport red zone and the proposed height of 12 floors. However, he acknowledged that approvals had been secured from seven agencies, including the Fire and Rescue Department, Putatan District Council and Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM). Kanny said the development is set to be completed in three years, potentially affecting around 30 homes, and noted that nearly 100 villagers oppose the project. He stated that an objection letter will be sent to the Chief Minister soon. 'I urge all parties to show empathy to the affected residents, especially those facing imminent eviction. We are not against development, but we need cooperation from the MP, district council and developer so the villagers can live peacefully,' he said. United Malays National Organisation (Umno) Putatan chief Jeffrey Nor acknowledged the land is privately owned but expressed concern about the project's location in the village's center and the potential impact on traffic. He questioned how such a development could proceed without consulting nearby residents. 'Kampung Muhibbah Lama has long-standing roots and sentimental value. This issue must be resolved quickly. Development must respect the culture and identity of the local community,' he added.
Daily Express
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Councillors urged to uphold integrity
Published on: Thursday, May 08, 2025 Published on: Thu, May 08, 2025 Text Size: Dr Joachim (seated centre) with the newly-appointed councillors. PUTATAN: Local authorities form the essential third tier of government after Federal and State administrations, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam. He said they (local authorities) play a key role in approving policies, developing commercial and housing sites and issuing business licenses. Dr Joachim, who is also Local Government and Housing Minister, said this at the swearing-in ceremony for Putatan District Council's 2025 – 2027 term held at the Pacific Sutera Harbour, here. He said the local authority's expanded responsibilities include policy decision-making authority, oversight of commercial and residential development, business licensing administration and public sanitation and waste management systems. On that note, he urged the incoming councillors to maintain absolute integrity in all decisions, adopt a hands-on approach to understand community needs and expedite service delivery through proactive measures. Special recognition was given to outgoing council members for their contributions to Putatan's development, with Dr. Joachim saying 'Their initiatives and cooperation have laid important groundwork we must now build upon.' Present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya (Putatan MP), Petagas Assemblyman Datuk Awang Ahmad Sah and Putatan District Officer Masawi Hajij Salleh, among others. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
07-05-2025
- Borneo Post
Civil servant freed from 14 corruption charges
Awang Saifudin (left) shakes hands with his counsel Zahir after winning his appeal on Wednesday. KOTA KINABALU (May 7): A High Court here on Wednesday overturned a conviction and sentence of a civil servant and freed him from 14 corruption charges. Justice Datuk Celestina Steul Galid reversed Awang Saifudin Jumat's jail sentence and a total fine of RM255,000 when allowing his appeal against conviction and sentence on Wednesday. On May 3, 2024, a lower court sentenced Awang Saifudin to a total of 14 years' jail and the said amount of fines for the 14 charges after a full trial. The lower court judge sentenced him to one year's imprisonment for each of the charges but all the jail sentences were ordered to be served concurrently which he will only serve one year's jail. However, at the lower court, Awang Saifudin obtained a stay of his execution pending Wednesday's appeal. As for fine punishment, the lower court fined Awang Saifudin between RM10,000 and RM37,000, in default, a total of 53 months behind bars. The charges stated that Awang, as an executive officer (Grade 41) at the Putatan District Council, had corruptly accepted a total of RM50,500 from a woman as an inducement to grant her the repair, supply and service work contract for the Council for 2016 to 2018. The alleged said money was allegedly deposited into Awang Saifudin's bank account between November 15, 2017 and February 26, 2018 at a bank branch in Putatan. The charges were under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act. During trial, the prosecution had called 18 witnesses to testify against Awang Saifudin since it commenced in June 2023. Awang Saifudin, who opted to give unsworn evidence, had produced three witnesses, including himself to testify for his defence. Counsel Zahir Shah represented Awang Saifudin.
Borneo Post
06-05-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Sabah aims for cleaner future with modern waste management solutions
Dr Joachim (seated fourth from right) and Shahelmey (third from left) pose with the newly appointed Putatan District Council members. KOTA KINABALU (May 6): Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Joachim Gunsalam has called for greater efforts to improve cleanliness and solid waste management in Sabah. Dr Joachim, who is also the Sabah Deputy Chief Minister II, highlighted that the state still lacks a single landfill approved under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). 'We must identify suitable technologies and collaborate with private companies to ensure better solid waste management,' he said during the oath-taking and appointment ceremony for Putatan district council members at the Pacific Sutera here on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters later, Dr Joachim explained that adopting environmentally friendly waste disposal methods would require the public to be prepared for higher assessment rates, as these would cover the costs of rubbish collection, drainage maintenance and related services. He emphasized that encouraging the public to practise waste segregation at home is one of the steps forward, although such measures have yet to be implemented. 'We hope it can be carried out. However, whenever something is asked of the public, there tends to be objections and disagreements. Naturally, we cannot implement it all of a sudden. We need to educate the public first. Sometimes, people will begin to segregate their waste voluntarily,' he said. Dr Joachim shared insights from his recent visit to a landfill in Shenzhen, China, where advanced technology is used to manage waste and even generate electricity from the 2,000 tonnes of waste produced daily. 'Sabah can also do this, albeit on a smaller scale. But the question is: can we sustain consistent waste collection?' he noted. He added that Sabah currently does not have an incinerator but plans are underway for a pilot study in Sandakan and Papar involving pyrolysis — a process where waste is burned at lower temperatures in sealed, oxygen-free containers. 'The by-products include ash, carbon and organic plastic resin from which oil can be extracted. Any metal content, such as steel, can also be recycled,' he explained, adding that these initiatives are private sector ventures. Deputy Chief Minister III and Sabah Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya was also present at the event.
