By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: Veteran Sabah politician Datuk David Chong Ket Sui said some shoplot owners at Tanjung Aru Plaza had approached him for help in obtaining their strata titles following a prolonged delay.
They had gone to the Lands and Surveys Department to enquire about the titles but were told to wait because the developer had yet to settle the outstanding quit rent, he said.
The shoplot owners, led by pro-tem committee chairman Datuk CK Tan, recently expressed frustration after the developer twice failed to deliver on its promises to hand over the titles in 2022 and 2024.
“They asked me if there was a way to resolve the problem. I told them I don’t have the influence because I am no longer active in politics,” Chong said.
He said he might have been able to help when he was active in politics, as people often approached him for assistance when he worked with Tanjung Aru assemblyman Datuk Wong Hong Jun.
“The shoplot owners knew that I had previously worked with Wong when we were in DAP and later in Warisan,” he said, adding that the party’s office was also at Tanjung Aru Plaza.
Chong advised the shoplot owners to approach Wong directly for assistance.
“As the elected representative, Wong should meet both the developer and the department to find out what is causing the delay and help find a solution.
“He should then update the shoplot owners on the outcome,” he said.
He questioned the purpose of electing a representative if the person could not help constituents facing problems.
Chong said some shoplot owners had expressed regret over supporting Wong, claiming he had not come forward to help them.
He said an elected representative had a responsibility to assist constituents regardless of their circumstances.
Chong said Wong should meet both parties to seek clarification and ensure the shoplot owners were informed of the actual situation.
He stressed that an elected representative was paid by taxpayers and had a duty to serve the people who voted for him.
‘They asked me if there was a way to resolve the problem. I told them I don’t have the influence because I am no longer active in politics’ – Chong
