Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III and state Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya (right) chats with Kampung Sembulan Lama Residents and Welfare Association chairman Osman Omar Khan (left) during the walkabout at the affected area on Sunday (Oct 20).
KOTA KINABALU: Land acquisition and utility relocation issues related to the Pan Borneo Highway project in Sabah must be addressed early during the planning stage, says Sabah Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.
Shahelmey, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister III, said this was important to ensure smooth implementation of the highway project which would require close cooperation between federal and state government officials.
He said this when commenting on the 17 packages worth RM9.7bil under the Pan Borneo Sabah 1B Phase announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when tabling Budget 2025 on Friday.
“The Prime Minister and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor have acknowledged these challenges and have established special committees to oversee project execution.
"These committees are expected to streamline processes and ensure that infrastructure developments progress without unnecessary delays,” he told reporters after meeting Kampung Sembulan Tengah villagers following the controversial notices issued by the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK).
Shahelmey assured that DBKK and state agencies were working on a solution to ensure that no drastic actions would be taken to displace the Kampung Sembulan Tengah residents.
Reaffirming the state government’s commitment to ensuring the well-being of the affected residents as redevelopment plans take shape, he assured residents that their concerns would be addressed.
“This morning (Oct 20), I joined a group of Kampung Sembulan Tengah residents to conduct a survey within the village, which is part of the planned redevelopment.
"We understand that this issue has sparked concern since DBKK issued notices regarding changes and relocations for units whose leases had expired,” said Shahelmey.
He explained that following discussions between DBKK and the residents, an agreement was reached to delay the planned changes, originally scheduled for Oct 14 and Nov 1.
“These changes will not happen immediately. Together with City Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Sabin Samitah, we have agreed to postpone the notices, ensuring no immediate relocations.
"We want to make it clear that DBKK will only take action when necessary and residents will always be informed ahead of time,” he said.
Shahelmey also said that some lot owners had informed that their houses were in poor condition, posing safety risks.
"Some residents have agreed to allow DBKK to demolish these unsafe structures if needed. But, rest assured, no changes will be made suddenly or without due notice," he added.
During official dialogues, Shahelmey said that most residents were open to the idea of redevelopment as long as it came with proper compensation and adequate housing.
“I am relieved to hear that the residents generally support redevelopment.
“However, their main concern is to ensure they receive fair compensation and suitable housing. These concerns will be taken into account as we move forward,” he said.
Currently, over 100 lots are affected by the redevelopment, with some leases having already expired. DBKK, along with the Land Department, are reviewing the status of these lots.
Kampung Sembulan Tengah residents voiced concerns over the gentrification of the former fishing village, fearing that urban development plans could displace their long-standing community.
Meanwhile, Shahelmy said the Sabah Works Ministry is committed to ensuring that development funds allocated for the state under the 2025 Budget are fully utilised.
While describing the RM6.7bil budget as a substantial allocation for the state’s development, he expressed concerns about the ability to fully utilise the funds.
"Every year, we hear about budget allocations, but by the end of the year, the allocated funds are often not fully utilised.
"This is an area that requires attention, ensuring the smooth execution of projects so that the entire budget allocation is used optimally,” he added.
