KOTA KINABALU: Protruding concrete planter boxes, extended walkways into parking lots, and malfunctioning signboard lights have become eyesores in Kota Kinabalu's Chinatown.
The Foh Sang commercial area is a bustling area that is constantly packed with vehicles, be it those dropping by just to get a quick meal or takeaways, to the uncles and aunties sitting in coffee shops just to hang out with their old friends.
It is mainly a Chinese area which comprises eateries, flower shops, and a shop selling Chinese religious items located in the midst of housing areas and main roads.
However, an ongoing initiative to beautify Foh Sang has turned into an ugly experience for businesses and patrons.
Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) vice-president Gee Tien Siong highlighted these concerns after receiving numerous complaints from the public.
“Due to the new protruding walkways, someone had actually tripped and fallen,” he claimed.
“As for those concrete things right in front of the shops and parking lots that I assume will be used to plant flowers, or sit down, who in the world will come to Foh Sang to look at flowers or sit under the hot sun?” he asked.
Gee said the newly completed Foh Sang signboard is already damaged, with its lights only partially on.
He also pointed to some overgrown shrubs and branches on some of the shop units, asking why the landscaping team did not seem to have noticed those plants.
“If beautifying Foh Sang is the main objective, I am sure these trees coming out of some of the units are big enough to be noticed and attended to,” he said.
Gee also wanted to know whether the business owners and local community were given any chance to discuss the beautification initiative before work started.
“Because it doesn’t seem like engagement was done with the people here,” he said.
He called on Luyang assemblyman Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe to respond to these concerns.
