KOTA KINABALU: The state government has been urged to look into the many abandoned government buildings in Sabah which have been left to rot, with some posing a danger to the public.

Luyang assemblyman Datuk Hiew King Cheu said the state government should seriously consider plans to refurbish these buildings for future use.

"For those buildings which are unsafe for use, it may be necessary to consider demolishing them to make way for future developments.

"Or perhaps even better, the government could arrange joint-venture efforts with the private sector to turn the abandoned sites into profitable development projects" he said.

"In doing so, it could help remove a lot of the old and abandoned buildings in the state which have become an eye-sore. This will definitely reflect the high efficiency of the state government and uplift the image and environment of the city" Hiew said in a statement on Monday, 16 October.

A typical example of an abandoned building is the Tam Kan Flats in Inanam, which is under the Public Works Department, Hiew said.

If a redevelopment project is done through joint-venture with the private developers, Hiew said, the state government would surely benefit from the revenue generated from the abandoned sites without incurring tax-payers' money.

Many property developers will be very keen to participate in these government joint-venture redevelopment projects, he said.

"This will also create jobs for our contractors and developers, and boost the economic growth in the state. The government must create a positive plan to turn these abandoned buildings into a money earner as the money earned can then be utilized to benefit the people" he added.