Kota Kinabalu MP Hiew King Cheu is seriously considering suing Sepa (Sabah Environmental Protection Association) and its president Wong Tack over "wild comments" made by the latter on the on-going Kota Kinabalu Waterfront Project.

The RM500 million project has been mostly inspired by Australia's world-famous Sydney Waterfront.

The legal suit threat follows an advisory from the Sabah DAP Legal Bureau which this week discussed the "comments and instigation by Wong" on the KK Waterfront project.

The bureau recommended that Hiew sue Sepa and Wong.

hiew king cheu Hiew ( left ) is upset that Sepa has issued statements alleging that he was siding with the project's developer and had in fact become their spokesman, instead of conducting himself like an opposition MP.

MP turns into detective

"Wong also implied that I had a vested interest in the alleged sea reclamation for the project by the developer," fumed Hiew.

"He further insulted me by claiming that as an engineer I had to learn more about environment protection and suggested that I read the local papers for this education."

Hiew also claims that Sepa and Wong had also insulted and dragged the people of Kota Kinabalu into the controversy.

"As the people's representative in Kota Kinabalu, it is my duty to find out the facts on the issue of the alleged sea reclamation," said Hiew.

"Is there is something really wrong going on and against the guidelines set by the Department of Environment?"

The MP clarified that he had visited the site to find out what was going on and later expose it for public information. He added that the developer had briefed him.

Allegations that the Kota Kinabalu MP is involved in City Hall development projects are routine but this is the first time that Hiew is threatening legal action.

A lesson in polemics

KK Mayor Iliyas Ibrahim has also clarified that there has been no reclamation works as alleged.

He pointed out that photos of the alleged reclamation works had been circulating on social networking website FaceBook since Jan 2. "It is not reclamation activity," said Iliyas. "It is just earthwork preparation for some piling works."

port kota kinabalu aerial view 260209 Sepa's stand on the matter is that a big chunk of the sea fronting the project site had been filled with earth.

The NGO is not concerned with arguments that the alleged reclamation was done with earth from inside the project site and not outside.

Reclamation is reclamation and not earthworks, according to Wong who went on to castigate Hiew for denying the facts on the ground, on behalf of the developer, and "raising many eyebrows in the process".

"The work plan could take the project 100 metres beyond the stipulated boundary line allocated to the developer," he said.

"Already, sheet piling is going on outside the project site. This is contrary to the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) for the project."

Wong also pointed out that by erecting the esplanade on stilts, the entire area below will turn into a garbage trap.

Meanwhile, the contractor for the project has been ordered by City Hall to remove all the soil dumped into the sea "in an alleged reclamation attempt" together with a RM15,000 compound for the unauthorised earthworks.

"The contractor will not be allowed to do any reclamation works," said City Hall Deputy Director-General 11 Joannes Solidau, adding that he faces action if he defies the order.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Masidi Manjun confirmed that City Hall in fact gave the contractor concerned approval to do land reclamation at the project site.

"City Hall's explanation that there was no need for an EIA on this because the feature was not permanent was not acceptable," said Masidi. "They have misinterpreted the ruling on EIA.

"I expect City Hall, being a leading government agency, to play an important role in preserving and conserving the environment and the seafront."

The project, a private initiative in joint-venture with KK City Hall, is being touted as world-class and on par with the best boardwalks and lifestyle centres around the world.

Besides the Darling Harbour in Sydney, there are also features from Cape Town in South Africa, Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, Canary Wharf in London and the Clark Quay Riverside in Singapore.

The project is being carried out on a 3.12 hectare stretch along the Kota Kinabalu seafront.

It is scheduled to be completed at the end of this year and will feature a 2 km -long boardwalk, commercial buildings and retail space.