Sabah property prices expected to dip with faster developer approvals

Sabah is hoping that houses and property price in the state will become more affordable, following the implementation of 24-hour approval given to developers, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal. - NSTP/MALAI ROSMAH TUAHBy Olivia Miwil - February 2, 2020 @ 4:16pm

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is hoping that houses and property price in the state will become more affordable, following the implementation of 24-hour approval given to developers, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

Last year, the state assembly had approved The Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Enactment 2019 to replace the Town and Country Planning Central Board with a new entity, the State Planning Council.

Shafie said that with the abolition of the Central Board and the Enactment, developers could expedite their property development.

“The launching of e-Planning Permission (EPP) website, was planned from the beginning, to enable all development projects to be approved (fast) compared tthe o with Central Board that might take as long as 10 years.

“If we delay the approval, in 10 years the price of all the raw materials such as cement, sand and others will go up.

“Secondly, there will be projects that are abandoned as there is no proper planning,” he said after launching the EPP website here, adding such flow would also minimise corruption.

Shafie also said the new method would require developers to manage their own approvals from relevant agencies such as Environmental Impact Assessment, Fire and Rescue Department and design planning, among others.

Present was State Deputy Chief Minister cum Local government and Housing minister Datuk Jaujan Sambakong and State Secretary Datuk Safar Untong.

Earlier, Safar said that the EPP system was jointly developed by Local government and Housing Ministry and State Computer Services department while Kota Kinabalu City Hall was chosen as the pioneer to kick-off the system.

“Local government and Housing Ministry, which serves as an administrator, would be responsible in upgrading for the system to be extended to link with other technical departments and local authorities.

“Among the positive impacts from this EPP implementation includes directing local authorities to expedite gazetting process in their jurisdictional areas,” he said, adding 72 local planning drafts were expected to be gazetted by July.