Shafie also says that no concrete decision has been made about the ecological development of Tanjung Aru but hints that he could follow the original plan.
Sabah CM Shafie Apdal says that it is best that both parties sit down to amicably settle the problem of unpaid electricity bills. KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government will maintain its position and will not participate in the current conflict between a shopping center that has not paid its RM 8 million electricity bill and the electricity company that is decided enough.
Chief Minister Shafie Apdal said his decision not to let the government intervene in the conflict was because he did not want to continue the culture of the government that "bail out" the companies when they got in trouble .
must insist that we must let market forces prevail. It is important for us.
"We can not afford to intervene from time to time … whenever anyone gets in trouble, the government jumps to their rescue."
Shafie added that he was more concerned about what would happen in Sabah. Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) if it did not have enough money to provide electricity to the entire state.
If such a thing happened, he said that everyone in Sabah would suffer and not just manage 1Borneo Hypermall, the biggest shopping. He stated that the problem of unpaid electricity bills was not new and that, as of right, it should have been settled long ago
. Both parties must sit down to resolve their problem amicably without asking the government to intervene.
"I know that it is painful for tenants, especially small retailers
" Some of them might even have to close shop.
"I would advise them to go back to work. sit down with spirit He insisted that letting such disputes take its course was better in the long run because otherwise, if the government would bail out Borneo of this problem, he would open the door.
"Then people from all over Sabah will come to the government, electricity bills on hand, asking the government to help them settle them," he said.
The SESB The delivery of electricity from Borneo was interrupted on 27 June after the non-payment of the initial arrears of RM 9.3 million.
The power was restored after the mall paid the same day RM700,000.
On July 11, the management of 1Borneo failed to settle the remaining electricity bills, which amounted to more than 8 million rand.
Tanjung Aru Eco Development
Meanwhile, Shafie told the stat The Cabinet will decide what to do with the Tanjung Aru Ecological Development Project (TAED) in six weeks.
He said that he understood the basic concern that the project is completely abandoned, he must also take into account the need for development in the state
These projects development, he said, would provide work opportunities for the people. "
" If the project continues, if it is possible to downsize, then it is an option. Otherwise, we can continue according to the original master plan.
"But whatever it may be, we have to find a balance and hear opinions from all sides. This is still under discussion and there is enough time to make a decision, "he said.
The TAED project is part of a master plan for a facelift of the greater Tanjung Aru region. was put on hold following the defeat of Barisan Nasional in the last elections
Another group seeks the end of Tanjung Aru's project
The Tanjung Aru project could continue, says Shafie