SANDAKAN – DAP’s Tanjong Papat assemblyman Datuk Frankie Poon Ming Fung is considering the development of a centre in Sandakan, similar to Urban Transformation Centres (UTC), where essential government and private sector services can be accessed in one location.
Recognising the need for Sabah leaders to take matters into their own hands, Poon has initiated efforts to enhance the facilities of the MPS Tower, originally earmarked for a UTC when the proposal first emerged in 2019.
In a statement yesterday, Poon, who is also the Sabah DAP chief, mentioned active engagement with Sandakan Municipal Council (SMC) president Henry Idol to address various issues concerning the MPS Tower, including hygiene, elevator maintenance, and overall facilities.
“The SMC officers informed us that they are currently working on cleaning up the building and preparing every floor to accommodate government department offices, including the SMC collection department.
“Thus, I invite other federal and state government departments and agencies to establish their offices at the tower, creating a one-stop station similar to the UTC for the benefit of the public.”
This proposal comes after the plan to establish a UTC in Sandakan was twice shelved, first by the previous PN government in 2020 and more recently by the unity government, as announced in the Dewan Rakyat’s special chamber session.
During the session, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, responding to Sandakan MP Vivian Wong, mentioned that there are already three UTCs in Sabah, the maximum number the government can afford in each state.
Ahmad suggested exploring the possibility of the Sabah state government constructing a UTC.
Deputy Finance Minister Steven Sim reiterated that the federal government’s financial constraints prevented the establishment of a UTC in Sandakan during the annual Sabah DAP conference, confirming that the federal government could not afford it.
Observing the reduced number of vendors in the once lively MPS Tower, Poon suggested recruiting young entrepreneurs with attractive offers to rejuvenate the building.
The focus would be on the Welfare Department, National Registration Department (JPN), and Immigration Department, aiming to alleviate congestion at the current federal department office at Mile 7 and simultaneously boost economic activities in town, contributing to SMC’s revenue.
“I believe that this would not only address the needs of the people but also revitalise the MPS Tower and its surrounding area in the town.”
Previously, Scoop reported the National Registration Department (NRD) office in Lahad Datu faces human rights concerns due to poor facilities and understaffing issues.
On a regular workday, the office resembles a bustling gathering, with a crowd filling the premises of the federal government building at Mile 7, underscoring the urgent need for a UTC in Sandakan.
The announcement of a UTC in Sandakan was initially made in January 2018 by the then-BN government as part of an election promise. Despite ongoing advocacy by local representatives, the promised development has yet to materialise. – December 6, 2023