Rezoning of Kepayan's open space was not done right, says Warisan's vice president

KOTA KINABALU: Something is "just not right" with the controversial conversion of open spaces for sports and recreation into commercial development in Kepayan, says the Warisan vice president.

Datuk Junz Wong said there was a significant shift in the Kota Kinabalu Local Plan for the two open space land plots in the Austral Park area in Kepayan between 2020 and 2023.

He said the two plots of land, which were designated as open space based on the Kota Kinabalu Local Plans 2020 draft, had been rezoned for educational and low-density residential use in 2023.

"It is a dramatic shift in land use. It raises questions about community planning and preservation," said the Tanjung Aru assemblyman in a statement Monday (Jan 22).

He said that under the completed Austral Park development, a children's playground area was a mere 0.45ha, which fell short of the mandatory 10% open space reserve requirement.

He also said that a company had already placed caveats on the two plots of land.

He said the original open spaces include a hilly area previously marked as a Ridge Conservation Area due to its susceptibility to landslides.

"This area's conversion to low-density residential land in the latest zoning extract contradicts its original safety-focused purpose," he added.

He said that the Sabah Town and Housing Development Board stated in Nov 2023 that the rezoning of Kepayan Ridge met the 10% open space requirement.

"But, the current zoning extract for Austral Park tells a different story, indicating a potential disregard for legal standards and hints at a land grab," said Wong.

"Authorities should halt all related activities and allow for thorough and transparent review of the land conversions," he added.

He said it was open for the state government to ensure that all existing open spaces were preserved and safeguarded against future exploitation.

Austral Park residents in the surrounding areas have been demanding transparency over the land conversion for commercial use for the area and said that they were never consulted.

Last week, Luyang Assemblyman Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe, who is the assemblyman for the Kepayan Ridge area, said that the commercial development had received all necessary development approvals.

Phoong, who was also the state Industrial Development Minister, suggested that the developer incorporate a public park within the proposed new commercial complex that the residents could use.