KOTA KINABALU: An environmental impact assessment (EIA) will be carried out for the multi-billion ringgit sky train project that also involves a 64ha mixed development project along the Likas Bay here.

       Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said that the state government would ensure that the overall project would meet necessary requirements under environmental laws before it is implemented.

       Bung said that the project was still in its infancy and was in the planning stage as initial discussions were still being held by WHSB Ventures Sdn Bhd (a subsidiary of the Sabah investment arm Qhazanah Sabah Berhad) with three investor companies – Vizione Construction Sdn Bhd, Sycal Skycity Sdn Bhd and Guangchai China (M) Sdn Bhd.

       Bung’s statement on Tuesday (Dec 14) was in response to Sabah Environmental Protection Association (Sepa) president Alexander Yee, who urged the state to carry out an EIA on the area proposed to house the mixed commercial development complex called Jesselton New City and city's scenic Likas Bay.

       The proposed Sky Train project will be carried in two phases with the first phase – involving RM1bil investment – will cover a distance of 10.5km from the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) to the city centre and Jesselton New City.

       This is expected to take three years to build at a cost of RM1bil.

       In the second three-year phase costing RM1.4 billion and also taking three years, the tracts will span 15km - from the Jesselton New City to government administrative buildings and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).