KOTA KINABALU: The proposed resort at Sabah's Tawau Hills Park could become a white elephant if crucial aspects such as sanitation, water supply and environmental impact are not addressed, says a Parti Warisan leader.
Its vice president Datuk Junz Wong said the state government needs to justify the venture, which was mentioned by Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew recently.
In a statement on Wednesday (March 19), Wong cited concerns over freshwater sources for Tawau, Semporna and Kunak, as the park serves as a major avenue of supply for these three areas; the absence of local consultations; and potential environmental damage.
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Wong said water pollution and sewage management issues could pose a threat to nearly half a million Sabahams without adequate mitigation measures.
The Tanjung Aru assemblyman also questioned the exclusion of local stakeholders from the planning process, with park rangers, tour operators and NGOs such as Wildcru and 1StopBorneo Wildlife not being consulted.
“This is a significant concern as these groups have invaluable insights and experience in the area,” he said, adding that local tourism providers had also not been consulted.
“Is this development even included in the Sabah Parks Master Plan or designated tourism zoning areas?” he added.
Wong said construction of the 30 planned chalets and service roads could also damage the primary rainforest in the area.
“Has a thorough and transparent environmental impact assessment (EIA) been conducted, and why hasn’t it involved local stakeholders?” he asked.
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Referring to a geothermal project that caused extensive environmental damage and was ultimately abandoned in the nearby area, Wong questioned the likelihood of a similar fate for this resort project.
The geothermal project was introduced by the then Barisan Nasional state government in 2017, and abandoned after extensive land clearing.
“How can we trust that this plan will not end like the geothermal project... leaving behind only destruction?" Wong added.
He urged the state government to reconsider its approval of the project.
In January, Liew announced 10 key projects for tourism and related sectors this year, one of which included the planned resort.
