Two months ago (December 7, 2016), Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) invited anyone and public group to submit their written statement of any objection regarding the draft scheme of Tanjung Aru Eco Development (TAED) Local Plan. The public can still come until next Friday, February 10 to inspect the draft scheme and submit their written statement from 9.00 am to 4.30 pm (Monday to Friday) at Kota Kinabalu City Hall DBKK, No 1, Jalan Bandaraya, 88675 Kota Kinabalu. 1. Who is eligible to comment on the plan? Any person or public body affected by the draft scheme may within such period (till February 10) send to the Mayor of DBKK a WRITTEN STATEMENT OF OBJECTIONS to ANYTHING in the draft scheme. Since the affected area are land owned by the state government, mainly the beach area was previously gazetted as a foreshore reserved, the public are eligible to submit their written statement of objection. 2. Content of Written Statement of Objections. (as provision in the Town and Country Planning Ordinance (Sabah Cap 141), Section 7-3.) a. the NATURE of and REASONS for the OBJECTION; b. if the objection would be removed by an ALTERATION OF THE DRAFT SCHEME, any alteration proposed; c. if the objection can be satisfied by PECUNIARY COMPENSATION without alteration of the draft scheme, the amount of such compensation. 3. Who will consider your objection? Any written statement shall be considered at a MEETING of the local authority (DBKK) of which the objector shall be advised, and the objector may ATTEND and BE HEARD in person or by advocate or by a duly authorized agent or officer. For those who don’t know what to write in, below are few examples and guides to refer for the written submission. Please feel free to follow as written, omit accordingly or add more as which you prefer. *** Written Statement of Tanjung Aru Eco Development (TAED) Local Plan a. The nature and reason for the objection; - The loss of the remaining natural habitat for beach and coastal flora and fauna within the Kota Kinabalu city area. - The lost of spot to watch rare bird species of Blue Naped Parrot and Oriental Pied Hornbill well known by enthusiastic bird watcher around the country. - The loss of the community hall, rugby field and public park in Tanjung Aru for locals to do their sports and family activities. - The lost of the original view spot that put Kota Kinabalu as one of the famous sunset view in the world. - The loss of the government quarters houses built before Malaysia Day with historical colonial architecture influences. - The loss of the iconic casuarina (aru) tree and its geographical cape (tanjung) feature that known as Tanjung Aru beach. - The loss of the safest area for sailing and best sailing competition circuit in this region and among the world according to the international sailing jury, Leonard Chin from Kinabalu Yacht Club (KYC). - About 2,000 students from Tanjung Aru 1 and Tanjung Aru 2 will be affected due to the relocation. - The proposed excavation and reclamation seen as an excessive way to solve non serious erosion and pollution problem. - The proposed high density residential, commercial and hotel and resort zoning will add more problem to city’s traffic planning and waste management system. - Access to the proposed beach and waters area to be limited due to the internal water channel and resorts property seen as not friendly for people to visit. - The addition of another proposed 18 hole golf course which next to another few existing golf course in Kota Kinabalu is not a development this city need. - TAED draft scheme overall make no planning or practical sense in solving the environment and coastal problem claimed by TAED. b. If the objection would be removed by the alteration of the Draft Scheme, any alteration proposed; - Restore the remaining foreshore reserve with 100 meters setback no permanent structure built along the beach side. - Declare all TAED land to be a city park reserved for environmental conservation effort and public activities. - Cancel the excavation and reclamation project as it serves no purpose or benefit to the environment. - Declare the buffer land along airport runway extension as sport and recreation zone. c. If the objection could be satisfied by pecuniary compensation without alteration of the draft scheme, the amount of such compensation; - No compensation or value can replace the destruction of the existing flora and fauna of the beach proposed in TAED development planning scheme. Email us at [saveopenspacekk@gmail.com] for more query about this submission. Please support, comment and share this petition. ***