A RM20 million botanical park will be built at Tun Fuad Stephens Park in Bukit Padang in line with making the city more liveable, according to Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) Director-General, Noorliza Awang Alip.

“As part of the plan for greener Kota Kinabalu, we will open a botanical park here. We have been given an allocation of RM20 million for it and have received 10 per cent for the appointment of a consultant to do the Terms of Reference (TOR)."

"This is in line with our mission to make Kota Kinabalu a clean, green and liveable city for the people’s wellbeing,” she said in her presentation “KK Moving Forward” at its first Town Hall held at DBKK building, Saturday. It was in conjunction with DBKK’s newly-launched corporate culture of KK Moving Forward – Innovative, Efficient and Effective.

Noorliza said improvements would also be made on public parks and monuments, as well as landscaping in suburban areas.   

She said for lighting up the city and to make it lively, work already started in Likas Bay areas and would extend to other areas. 

As for old, dull-looking and poorly maintained buildings in the city, she said an integrated operation would be conducted to advise building owners and assist them if they request for it. 

“DBKK has a collaboration with Nippon Paint which provides a certain discount to encourage building owners to have their respective buildings repainted...especially buildings built after war or in the 60s,” she said. 

Earlier, Noorliza said there is a need to plan and activate a people-related agenda for the 366sq km Kota Kinabalu City, of which 30 per cent in urban and the rest suburban, with a population of 536,000.  

“There is a need to ensure whatever prosperity at the city centre will be shared by those in greater KK,” she said.  She said DBKK’s mission is not only to make Kota Kinabalu a clean, green and liveable city but create a conducive and innovative business environment while at the same time empower the suburban area and people who live there. 

In her presentation, she also touched on the enforcement, waste management, settlement including squatter colonies, public amenities like cycling tracks and shelved pedestrian walkways, commercial activities like food trucks, food and fruit stall markets and services provided by DBKK. 

The DBKK currently has 66 professionals and 2,010 field personnel.