KOTA KINABALU: DAP has stepped in to support the call by arch rival Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) to put a halt on any plans to allow reclamation on water retention lagoons along Likas Bay here.

       DAP's Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin gave a rare support to SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee's call to stop any plans for commercial redevelopment of the lagoon that act as water catchment ponds.

       "I wish to state my support for Yong’s call that such land should be retained as a water retention pond to serve as an outlet for the surrounding areas during heavy rains.

       "No reclamation should be allowed whatsoever by the local authorities in the Likas lagoons, including the land which had been zoned for commercial development," he said in a statement Thursday (Dec 30).

       He said that Kota Kinabalu City Hall and other local authorities should reverse the “commercial development” zoning and convert the zoning of the 16.21ha tract of land into water retention ponds.

       He said the effects of climate change are starting to be seen here as many areas within the city that were not known to flood have experienced multiple floods in 2021 itself after heavy and continuous rains.

       "The only solution for the government is to speed up measures to protect the areas from floods by setting aside more lands for water retention ponds and pumps," he said, adding that it would be difficult to reverse commercial development that was not properly planned in the past.

       Chan said the Environment and Water Ministry (Kasa) had told Parliament that the flood problem in the Likas area was influenced by the tides, and the solution required the construction of a barrage (an artificial barrier to prevent flooding), as well as the installation of pumps.

       However, he said that the possibility of the implementation of the Likas Barrage was still being studied.

       "I do not understand why it takes so long just to make a decision. The government can no longer afford to delay in handling the immediate impact of climate change.

       "We do not need any more floods, as it will certainly lead to a lot of property damage and may even cause lives," he added.

       He hoped that the state government would also clarify on the development plans for the lagoons.