See the attached image/video. This is the daily reality of the people from Gaya Island who commute to the city of Kota Kinabalu and back to the island. They are forced to use a wet, dilapidated, and unsafe jetty in order to earn a living for their families.
Recently, DBKK launched a new jetty under the management of DBKK Holdings, equipped with modern and more comfortable facilities. However, this jetty is only designated for tourism purposes.
The question is, there are already two (2) jetties for tourism purposes in Kota Kinabalu, namely the Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal and the DBKK Jetty. Why is there a need for two tourism jetties when local residents who use the jetty daily still face unsafe conditions?
The Tanjung Aru assemblyman has received various complaints from the residents of Gaya Island regarding the existing jetty infrastructure, which is risky and dangerous, especially for the elderly, children, and women.
More concerning, questions arise regarding emergency situations:
• What if a medical emergency occurs that requires immediate transfer to a hospital?
• What if there is a death and the body needs to be taken out of the island immediately and in an orderly manner?
• Can the existing jetty guarantee safety in such critical situations?
In such circumstances, access to a safe and orderly jetty is no longer a luxury, but a basic necessity.
In this regard, there is a proposal for the DBKK Jetty to be opened for public use, at least for daily and emergency purposes. This step is seen as capable of providing relief to the residents of Gaya Island and enhancing their safety and well-being.
The Tanjung Aru assemblyman firmly supports this proposal and urges the DBKK to consider opening the jetty to the public for the overall benefit of the people.
The people should not be marginalized in matters of safety and basic facilities.
