Gaya island needs much better transformation

Gaya island needs much better transformation

I refer to the article headed “Turn Gaya into island park: Harris” (DE 7 Oct) where he said that Gaya island be made an iconic island park without buildings or people staying overnight other than the security guards. He also suggested an electric train to serve the island park but he missed out mentioning a bridge to go with the train as shown in the picture in the said article.

We know Gaya island is very strategic location in Kota Kinabalu since time immemorial and the water way has served the KK city well with the  harbour and port city taking shape into another zone of tourism businesses with several high density buildings and cruise ships wharf plus the  international convention centre soon to be open next year.

So there will be much more traffic between KK city and the Gaya island with those upcoming developments at the former port area.

Lets think again a bridge into Gaya island as an island park and not a resort devoid of inhabitants as suggested by the exCM is contradictory to keeping the island pristine again.  With the bridge possibly also for vehicles possibly for thousands of vehicles daily, where would these vehicles be parked there?  If the bridge is only for the electric training, would that be running automatically twenty four hours daily?  I think instead of the restricting and expensive bridge that can bring thousands of vehicles to pollute the environment of the island park, it is a better option for a very good and regular ferry services (more jobs opportunities) by various sizes of ferry ships. Once the bridge is in place there, movements in the water way could be inhibited and potentials thereof much diminished. The experience of travelling in a regular and reliable ferry would be an enjoyable time well worth the journey to and fro the island instead of the small boats serving travellers at the present moment.  The same ferry service can also move around the island for sightseeing.

To keep the island park pristine again, we need to act on the re-location of the squatter people and demolish the quarters/houses plus a great deal of work to clean up the whole area including the black water between KK City and the Gaya Island.  It is very important that we can clean up the area and to bring back the coral, coral fishes and sea foods once abundant.

I think the money to transform the area into a very much desired iconic and enjoyable site would be available for the special exercise including re-locating the local residents in Gaya Island to the mainland. Some of these people can come back to serve in the ferry service and maintain the island pristine for the increasing tourists and local alike.

There is no longer any excuse to delay the transformation of Gaya Island.

Joshua Y C Kong 18/10/2019