But this time it’s not from proposed development, the concern instead is land slides.
Erosion due to consistent heavy rain in the past few weeks coupled with the recent installation of utilities pipe and lines have taken its toll on the fragile cliff slope.
A site visit showed a tear on the cliff edge. This is worrying because if it continues to grow it will destabilise the cliff.
Urgent mitigation work is desperately in need to stabilise the soil and stop any future land slide that will cause the clock tower to crash.
“A retaining wall seems to be a sensible solution”, suggested concerned city dweller who has been avidly preserving and protecting this monument from unscrupulous development.
Declining to be named, he said a retaining wall if constructed would not interfere with the aesthetics of the clock tower and its surrounding.
“No need for retention wall to be big… but it needs the understanding and participation from all various department, NGOs and public,” said the concerned citizen.
Responding to the erosion, Sabah State Museum curator John Sen had called and met with the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) staff on the clock tower site as the land came under their jurisdiction.
The erosion site is now covered with canvas to prevent any further damage caused by the heavy rain as neither Sabah Museum nor DBKK have allocations available to fix the problem in long term.
Heritage Sabah, a grouping of concerned citizens here, said via Facebook they will monitor the soil erosion on the Atkinson Clock Tower and consult with engineers.
They hope the authorities can take swift precautions to prevent further erosion.
Meanwhile in regards to the North Borneo War Memorial City Park, environmentalist CY Vun has slammed the Persatuan Arkitek Malaysia (PAM) Sabah Chapter and Heritage Sabah for giving impractical proposals for the relocation of the North Borneo War Memorial.
Vun also questioned PAM’s motive, which he claimed was without consultation of the members of the community especially the business operators in the vicinity.
“The shifting back of the war memorial will cause congested in an already busy part of the city particular on Sunday where the popular weekly trade fair is being held,” said Vun.
Responding to Vun’s statement, PAM Sabah Chapter chairman Victor Wong replied that the street was already very busy and often crowded especially during Sunday.
With the current flow of visitors from China, it is a clear sign of the success of the pedestrian concept in Gaya Street.
Wong said holding ceremonial functions at the memorial was not an issue as ecause Gaya Street is closed to traffic every Sunday.
As for traffic congestion, Wong said it can be dealt with through good management by DBKK.
Wong explained the reason for PAM’s call to return the war memorial to its original place was to ally existing confusion over local history.
“While it may have been a well-intended action back in the 1970s, removing the monument from Gaya Street was an oversight because its current location is not historically accurate,” said Wong.
Many local architects, Sabah history enthusiasts, students and even civil servants were misinformed about the planning of early Jesselton town due to the fact that the monument was moved.
These are architectural elements that help to contain visual interest and a ‘sense of place.’
It is not clear if the war memorial was sited along Gaya Street for this purpose, but its original presence there as a focal point in 1923 did fulfil the good town planning concept, that is, to visually contain the parallel perspective of the rows of shops, he said.
Architectural and Cultural Heritage Society of Sabah (Heritage Sabah) lauded the call by Wong.
“This year marks the 90th anniversary of the monument unveiling.
Reinstating the war memorial back to its original location, from the historical view point is the right thing to do,” said Heritage Sabah president, Richard Nelson.
The North Borneo War Memorial was revealed in a grand ceremony at Gaya Street on May 8, 1923 to commemorate the death of 13 local North Borneo soldiers who enlisted and died in the British Force during World War One.
The ceremony was officiated by Major General Sir Neil Malcom, General Officer Commanding Troops in Malaya. Engraved in the stone memorial is a wreath containing the word “To Glorious Dead 1914 – 1918”.
Another plaque was later added in remembrance of members of the Australian Armed Forces who died during World War Two.
Meanwhile DBKK Mayor Abidin Mangdikir said there were not plans to return monument to its original spot on Gaya Streets as it will create traffic congestion.
Mangdikir said, the City Hhall has plans to beautify the surrounding area of the monument and that an application has been submitted to the Federal Government.
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