KOTA KINABALU: The state government does not see a problem in allowing public access to all areas of the Tanjung Aru beach here until a development plan is in place.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said that so far there was no overall development plan for the iconic beachfront and as such the state had no objections for the public to access all areas of the beach.
Hajiji said this at the Sabah Assembly sitting when asked by Datuk Junz Wong (Warisan-Tanjung Aru) on calls to give free public access to all areas of the beachfront.
Wong, among others, said that they wanted full access to the beach area after some parts including the Third Beach, popular with campers and picknickers, had been sealed off for vehicles to enter.
Hajiji said that he will inform Tanjung Aru Eco-Development Sdn Bhd (TAED) to allow the public to have full access to the beach.
TAED is a state-owned company set up to redevelop the iconic beach since 2016 and had come into public criticism for putting restrictions on entry into the beach.
Public criticism also included claims that the place was fast becoming a wasteland with TAED only imposing parking fees and selling hawker space on the beach since it took over the Second and Third Beach areas including Prince Philip Park in 2021 from the Kota Kinabalu City Hall.
Amid public complaints, TAED chairman Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia had, on Wednesday (May 24), said that access to the Third Beach was blocked to discourage people from swimming in the area due to poor water quality.
He said TAED was advised by its environmental assessment consultant that it was not advisable for people to swim in the area.
Furthermore, he said that the Tanjung Aru police had also advised them that a closure of the area would help control illicit activities in the area "as the place is pitch-black at night."
He said the imposition of parking fees and other revenue from the hawker activities was for the upkeep and maintenance expenditure done by 30 full-time general workers.
Tanjung Aru beach is internationally well known for its sunsets that draws hundreds of tourists and locals daily.
