Centre Point To Kickstart Construction To Link Mall To Kk Skybridge Next Year

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The mall’s management said in a statement that the initial funds intended for the project had to be repurposed for more urgent matters after Covid-19, including for service charge rebates for its struggling tenants and business owners at the mall. -NSTP/MOHD ADAM ARININKOTA KINABALU: Centre Point Sabah's management is in discussion with Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) on ways to resume a project to connect the KK Skybridge to the mall next year.
The mall's management said in a statement that the initial funds intended for the project had to be repurposed for more urgent matters after Covid-19, including for service charge rebates for its struggling tenants and business owners at the mall.
The 400m-long KK Skybridge had been launched by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor on Sept 3 and opened to the public on Sept 9.
The skybridge project, which intended to provide safe convenience for the public, currently links the Oceanus Shopping Mall, Api-Api Centre and Asia City.
However, one part of the skybridge near Centre Point Sabah is not yet completed.
There has also been some public scrutiny over the multi-million project since one section of the skybridge leads to a dead-end as it flows straight into a wall near Centre Point Sabah.
This gave pedestrians no choice but to turn back when they reach that section.
Centre Point Sabah general manager Megan Liu said the mall has discussed with the DBKK about the project.
Although it initially had a budget for the works to connect the skybridge to the mall, that budget had to be re-channeled instead to help its many traders and tenants who urgently needed rebates to survive amidst Covid-19 restrictions.
"The mall's management had allocated a budget solely for this project.
"However, due to the previous years of stagnant progress of the skybridge and the unprecedented situation caused by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was difficult to outsource the project to contractors."
Liu added that the pandemic has also led to a serious decline of sales at the mall and the nationwide movement restrictions due to Covid-19 had worsened the situation.
She said the mall understood the hardships faced by tenants and business operators, so they granted service charge rebates totalling RM1.44 million so far this year to the business operators' cash flow burden.
She said the mall's budget in recent time had to re-disbursed towards things like charity projects such as food bank programmes, blood donation campaigns, and sponsorships to frontliners.
"Instead of linking the KK Skybridge, the Mall Management has made the decision to prioritise taking care of the mall's business operators to help their businesses stay operating."
Liu also hoped that the state government or DBKK could allocate some budget next year to help the mall to complete the construction of the KK Skybridge's connection to the mall. - NST

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