KOTA KINABALU: Development plans can be approved within 24 hours now that an electronic planning permission (ePP) portal has been launched in Sabah.

The ePP portal is a fast-track approval system aimed at, among others, reducing or eliminating graft, while saving time and reducing red tape as well as cost.

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (pic), who launched the portal on Sunday (Feb 2), said the previous process to wait for approval could take up to years.

“But now, it will only take a day,” he said, adding that the use of ePP will start in Kota Kinabalu, followed by Sandakan and Tawau sometime in June.

He said under the ePP, Sabah developers need to only upload their development plans along with required documents and approval forms such as those from the Fire and Rescue Department.

“I hope the price of future developments in Sabah can be reduced with the introduction of ePP,” he said, adding that the prices of property in Sabah are among the highest in Malaysia.

Prior to this, such approvals were handled by the Central Board, which has been blamed for the slow development pace in Sabah.

Shafie said the faster development plan approvals were given, the lower the building cost would be.

The cost of goods and developments could increase by up to 10% or more per year due to fluctuation in raw material prices, land premiums and others.

“The state government had to amend several state laws to allow for the dissolution of the Central Board which used to process these plans,” he said.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/02/02/fast-track-approval-for-development-plans-on-track-in-sabah