Kota Kinabalu: Residents of Jalan Sang Kancil, in Karamunsing, want the construction of a four-storey apartment block at Lot 602 stopped as “it is inconsistent with the area’s status as a low-density residential zone”.
T.L. Lee, acting as spokesman, said the project would affect the privacy, safety, security and quality of life of homeowners who had lived there for generations, some for as long as 70 years.
“The residents are not squatters and want the relevant technical and legal issues surrounding the development project to be reviewed thoroughly.
“The authorities must ensure that the interests of Jalan Sang Kancil residents and landowners are given due consideration and that all residents are treated fairly. We feel the project’s approval breached and infringed our rights and interests,” he said.
“The authorities must execute their tasks with respect and fair treatment to all and are against selected preferential treatment.”The apartment project has a land area of about 6,446 sq ft (0.146 acre).
“The development plan was not made public until five weeks after commencement of construction by demolition of an existing two-storey detached house with the erection of a signboard on site on 15th June 2026, stating the commencement date was 4th May 2026.
“The re-zoning to High Density or Commercial zone of an existing Low Density residential area like Jalan Sang Kancil was done surreptitiously without informing or consulting the residents, often the development is made a fait accompli by deliberately giving inadequate notices late, or worse, none at all,” he said. Lee also cited Section 7 of the Town and Country Planning Ordinance (Sabah Cap. 141), saying residents believed any amendment to an existing planning scheme should be properly notified to the public and objections considered before implementation.
He alleged that inadequate or late notification of proposed changes could leave affected residents with little opportunity to raise objections and alleged that City Hall (DBKK) had failed to protect the interests and safety of rate-paying residents there.
Lee said the residents had previously objected to several proposed developments in the area, including a five-storey hotel, a cake factory and a mixed five-storey commercial and apartment development, four years ago from 2022.
The development proposals in 2022 and 2024 were stopped following objections, while the latest apartment project (four-storey apartment block) was approved in 2026 despite objections.
They also questioned why high-density or commercial developments were being considered in a low-density residential area when other land was available in Kota Kinabalu for development.
Lee said the tendency for property speculators and developers to acquire properties in low-density residential areas for conversion into high-density, commercial or mixed developments for quick profits must be stopped.
Similar development pressures had emerged in other residential areas in Kota Kinabalu and called for such proposals to be scrutinised.
“There are similar intrusions in other residential zones within KK which should also be stopped,” he said.
He said previous developments in Jalan Sang Kancil, unknown to the residents, had included a commercial poultry farm, a four-storey bed-and-breakfast apartment, a five-storey council workers’ apartment, a commercial warehouse and a bus depot.
“Such developments had placed additional pressure on existing infrastructure, including drainage, sewerage systems and narrow access roads, while contributing to parking and traffic problems and affecting residents’ privacy, views and access to sunlight.” Lee said Jalan Sang Kancil was a historic residential enclave dating back to the British colonial era. It was formerly known as Turnbull Place (after Governor Roland Turnbull) and later Jalan Muhibbah, and is among few remaining upmarket low-density residential areas in Kota Kinabalu.
“The title conditions of the Jalan Sang Kancil properties stated that the land was intended for ‘the erection or construction of a dwelling house’ and that subdivision was prohibited.
“We also question whether developments that could affect residents’ right to privacy and peaceful enjoyment of their homes should be allowed.
“Any purported changes to the status, privacy, peaceful abodes, safety, security, health, infrastructure amenities, among others, of the residents and landowners demands that notices ought to have been sent into every home within 10km radius but none to the knowledge of the residents at Jalan Sang Kancil,” he said.
