Kota Kinabalu, 30 April 2022
KOTA KINABALU: A meeting dialogue between members of PEKESTAR (Star City Buyers Association), Sabah Urban Development Corporation (SUDC), the representative of Skyrich Development Sdn Bhd was arranged by former Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee, to ensure the interests of the purchasers are protected.
Afizal Aldin, SUDC Chief Executive Officer assured that the plight of the purchasers is not neglected, and the Sales & Purchase Agreements signed between SUDC and purchasers are still legal binding, while Star City project is now renamed as “KK One”.
He said, replying to a question from one PEKESTAR member, SUDC will get into the details with PEKESTAR and other purchasers after Hari Raya Aidilfitri holidays.
“Even though the joint venture agreement has been terminated, due to the winding up of the previous developer, SUDC, as a GLC, has never forgotten our commitments to purchasers.”
Afizal had also promised that before any demolition (which was approved in December 2021) to be carried out, he will need the consensus from all parties concerned especially the Star City buyers.
He said SUDC’s policy at the moment is focused on reviving and resolving all existing sick or abandoned projects rather than looking for new projects.
He said this dialogue was a good start to settle any outstanding issues amicably and SUDC will keep abreast of the progress of this project with the purchasers.
The dialogue took place prior to the PEKESTAR’s Annual General Meeting chaired by PEKESTAR president Philip Liew Kon Sung, held at the Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce (KKCCC) meeting room on Saturday.
Yong, who is also a nominated assemblyman, is hopeful that the KK One Project, which was called Star City before, will be completed so that the 200 plus purchasers of the abandoned Star City project will get back their rights and investments after almost 15 years of waiting in despair.
The purchasers, who comprise local residents, have been suffering mental anguish and financial losses, including some losing their hard-earned savings in paying bank loan interests, ever since they committed to purchase units in the then Star City from 2007 to 2010.
“I have been informed that “KK One” project is a renewed commitment by SUDC to complete a commercial development in the heart of Kota Kinabalu City, which is a prime location,” he said.
He believes the completion of KK One Project will solve one of the biggest headaches of Kota Kinabalu City, spur the local economy and also remove an ugly sight of the now abandoned, partially completed Star City.
Yong called on all government agencies and departments, including the City Hall, to give their fullest cooperation to Sabah Urban Development Corporation (SUDC), which is under the purview of the Ministry of Industrial Development, so that the KK One Project can be completed without obstacles.
“Ministry of Industrial Development have shown their commitment to complete the KK One project. I am also thankful to the SUDC Chairman, Jamawi Jaafar, for his prompt action in agreeing this urgent dialogue.
“At the meeting with the SUDC Chairman and management recently, I noticed that SUDC is very focussed on completing the KK One project that includes the fulfilment of commitments to the purchasers of Star City.
Meanwhile, Lawyer for Skyrich Development Sdn Bhd, Ryan Soo, said the company which was appointed in 2019 was not idling even though during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period. In fact, they succeeded in acquiring approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) in 2020 for a 56-storey tall building. The whole development plan was approved in 2021.
Building plans submitted in April 2021 to City Hall is expected to get approved in mid-year 2022, he said.