KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (Shareda) has welcomed the long-awaited move to launch a portal for electronic planning permission, which is set to speed up development projects.

The ePP, which aims to fast-track approvals of development plans (DP) within 24 hours, is expected to ease developers from high holding costs, which previously caused some to suffer after their projects were stuck for years in the DP approval process.

Shareda president Datuk Chew Sang Hai (pic) said the measure would not only reboot the confidence of local developers with the Pakatan Harapan-Warisan government formed just less than two years as well as drive and revitalise the economy and investments in the state, but would also attract more investors here.

“This will create more job opportunities and related businesses downstream in the property sector, ” he said in a statement today (Feb 5).

He also believed that the efficiency of the ePP system would be proven in time to become a key driver to guide the applicant on the parameters of approval process online for all local authorities in Sabah.

“It is important for the investor or developer at the first stage to have first-hand information on the status of their application for DP approval, i.e the type of development, compliance to land title/conversion, zoning, density, road excess, and such," he said.

Chew also noted that the availability of digitally gazetted Local Plans in the ePP system in the near future would elevate planning by the private sector for the right types of development, zoning and land use.

He promised that Shareda would continue to complement the state government's efforts to boost economic growth and investments in the country as well as the housing and property development sector.

“We will continue to provide sound advice and recommendations to the current prevailing policies, guidelines and laws which are outdated, ” he said, adding that Shareda was willing to sit on any steering or task force committee to contribute such inputs.

Chew commended Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal for the breakthrough.

He added that the move was made possible with the determination of Deputy Chief Minister-cum-state Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Jaujan Sambakong, in collaboration with all the relevant ministries/departments, to study and review several measures, and make structural changes including to amend the laws within their framework.