LOCAL Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the proposal by the Tawau Municipal Council (TMC) to build the Tawau International Cultural Centre (TICC) costing RM20 million will be forwarded to the Finance Ministry and the Chief Minister for consideration.
He said he and the assemblymen from the Tawau area were in favour of the idea.
“This will be a good preparation for the Indonesian capital moving to neighbouring Kalimantan and that’s why I am supporting the project,” he added.
He said TICC will enhance Tawau’s image as a modern city and enliven the district as a centre for interaction between Tawau in Sabah and Kalimantan in Indonesia.
“TICC will also be able to generate income for TMC and local residents alike. We therefore hope that it will be approved by next year,” said Masidi, who is also the Second Finance Minister, while speaking to the press after attending a development briefing at TMC in Tawau.
Elaborating further, he said Tawau has a long history and a rich culture and it is about time that the East Coast town is given a new lease of life and recognition. Tawau has been hosting International Cultural Festivals for many years now.
“What needs to be done now is to increase and enhance its facilities so that Tawau can play a more effective role as a border town between Malaysia and Indonesia,” he pointed out.
He explained that among the things to be looked into are a better road network with Kalimantan and the construction of a modern Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Centre.
“With these things in place, then only we can hope to attract more tourists and investors to Tawau.
“Tawau also has a good airport and a port. Therefore I don’t see the need for a new township as suggested by certain quarters. Just improve existing facilities including better roads,” he pointed out.
Present were Masidi’s Assistant Minister Datuk Isnin Aliasnih, Assistant Finance Minister Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan, Assistant Youth and Sports Minister Andi Mumammad Suryady, Balung Assemblyman Hamild Awang and Kukusan Assemblywoman Rina Jainal.
Meanwhile, the Local Government and Housing Ministry has approved RM700,000 for a consultant’s fee to look into the cracks on three concrete pillars at the Tanjung Market, Tawau.
Masidi said the allocation was to enable TMC to pay the consultant as it was beyond their means.
“The job of the consultant is to ascertain what needs to be done as the cracks are something that is complex and cannot be ascertained with the naked eye,” he said.
He said that the step has to be taken because it was for the safety of both hawkers and visitors alike.
The Tanjung market is said to be among the biggest in Malaysia.
The cracks on the three pillars which were noticed in January have been worrying not only the hawkers and the public, but also staff at the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) which is located on the top floor of the market.
The market which was opened in October 1999 now houses 869 hawkers selling anything ranging from vegetables to fruits to dried seafood and food products.
On the abandoned Taman Sawit Balung housing project affecting 47 buyers since 2019, Masidi said his officers have met both parties – the cooperative and the developer – to find a solution.
“However, it is too early for the Government to step in as the case is still in legal process as the joint-venture agreement between the cooperative and the developer has run into disagreement.
“The termination of the agreement caused construction work to stop,” he explained.
He however hoped the matter can be resolved soonest so that construction work can resume as most of the buyers are from the lower income group.
Recently, a group of house buyers of Taman Sawit Balung staged a peaceful demonstration and urged the Government to step in as they were supposed to get their house keys in 2019.
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