Former Putatan MP hints will contest in Tanjung Aru

KOTA KINABALU (Jan 10): Former Putatan Member of Parliament Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh has hinted that he might contest in the forthcoming Sabah State Election for the Tanjung Aru state constituency if UPKO is not given the opportunity to field a candidate there.

“I don’t mind spending my own money and contesting as an independent candidate,” he told the media at PAWE (Senior Citizen Activity Centre) near here today.

“If UPKO (United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation) is not given the opportunity, and if the political parties continue to fight each other instead of uniting, I will consider it [running as an independent candidate],” he said.

However, Dr Marcus stated that if UPKO is given the opportunity to contest in Tanjung Aru, he would give his full support to the party candidate.

He lamented the excessive number of political parties in Sabah, which he said was causing confusion among the people. “It just shows how disunited we all are,” he said.

Dr Marcus added that his goal would be to secure at least 2,000 votes if he contested, ensuring he does not lose his deposit. He estimated that there were around 20,000 voters in the Tanjung Aru constituency, which encompasses the Tanjung Aru area, Sembulan and Pulau Gaya.

If elected, he pledged to address long-standing issues in the constituency, including noise pollution from the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, which affects nearby residential areas and schools, as well as places of worships, hospitals, hotels and commercial areas.

“Imagine how difficult it is for students in Tanjung Aru to concentrate during lessons, being constantly disrupted by the roar of passing aeroplanes,” said Dr Marcus, a former student of SM La Salle, located in the area and often affected by the noise.

Other schools impacted include SK Tanjung Aru 1, SK Tanjung Aru 2, SJK Stella Maris, SM Sanzac and Maktab Sabah. Several tertiary education institutions are also situated near the airport.

Also noise affecting the places of worships, hospitals, hotels and commercial areas.

Dr Marcus vowed to continue advocating for the relocation of the airport to a more suitable site, which would allow for its expansion as Malaysia’s second-busiest international airport.

“Relocating the airport would also enable the construction of high-rise buildings in Kota Kinabalu and surrounding areas, as current height restrictions are in place due to the airport’s proximity,” he said.

Another issue close to Dr Marcus’s heart is the plight of the original homeowners of Kg Sembulan, in general.

He urged the Sabah State Government to set aside two acres of land in the Sembulan area to construct a four-storey apartment building to house the homeowners affected by developments taking place in the area.

“For humanity’s sake, the government must provide this for them,” he said.

He believed that the affected homeowners in Kg Sembulan have not been adequately compensated for the loss of their homes to make way for development.

Dr Marcus also lamented the conditions of water villages in Kg Tanjung Aru, Kg Sembulan, and Pulau Gaya.

“No proper sewerage systems were installed in these water villages, so one can imagine the filth that is released into the water, including human excrement. These areas reek of garbage. During high tide, you can see plastic and other waste floating along the Sembulan and Karamunsing rivers. It is a deplorable sight. I don’t know if the City Hall is doing anything about it. This is not criticism, but it is a fact. Someone needs to make noise about it, and I am prepared to make noise,” he said.

He reminded everyone that these areas are in full view of guests, including tourists staying at hotels nearby.
“It is such a disgrace,” he said.

Dr Marcus also alleged that the water village in Kg Sembulan was notorious for drug abuse and illegal immigrants.

He claimed that some “wakil rakyat” (people’s representatives) were only vocal now, nearing the election, but had been silent and absent before this.

He also highlighted the potential of Pulau Gaya, urging the government to prioritise its development as a tourist destination.

“We need to develop the island as a tourist destination. Unfortunately, the government is not giving it any priority at the moment,” he said.