Developer and owner of Alorie Lepa Lepa Resort, one of the Entry Point Projects (EPP) under Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), should come forward to clarify the doubts raised by the public, and update the progress of the construction. Failing which state government should step in to address the issue of “environmental disaster” in the making.
Issue of highly speculated abandoned project of Alorie Lepa Lepa Resort has been brought up to the lime light of media in this October. It was reported that the project was abandoned six months from then. Three months have gone and this is the end of the year, but yet there is no progress at all seen in the site.
My recent visit to the Mabul island in the eve of Christmas, has made me stunned by the view there — thousands of huge concrete piling columns sit protruding from the seabed out to the water surface, spanning about a kilometre long, from one end to another, exactly as described by the “legal and prudent” blogger who exposed the issue this October.
What do the divers expect to experience in the waters of Semporna? A great bio diversified underwater scene or thousands of huge concrete piling columns left in the middle of sea?
According to the statement by Orson Lo, the Chief Executive Officer of Jewel of Mabul Development Sdn Bhd, the owner and developer of the project, in October, as responding to the issues raised up, the project is not abandoned; rather it is being implemented in two phases. He also stated that the project “may experience slight delays due to various factors affecting the project and the area, which is expected of a project of such magnitude and logistical challenges.”
The company should update the construction progress to the public, as this is not merely a private matter and the scenario of thousands piles left in the middle of the pristine Celebes sea might affect the image of the tourism industry in the waters of Semporna, which has the world’s highest marine biodiversity.
When would the second phase kick off? People is concerned with the issue.
It is not “slight delay” but a “serious delay” as the RM 200 million 5 star resort project was estimated to be completed in the early of next year, during the launching of the project. Furthermore, the serious delay of Alorie Lepa Lepa Resort would affect the overall image of Prime Minister’s pet project ETP.
In order to restore the public confidence to the ETP, state government especially state Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment should intervene in the issue and rectify the condition if the developers and owners failed to explain the current progress of the project, before any further damage is done to the tourism industry in the waters of Semporna after ransom case of a Taiwanese women to Philippines.