By Brad Rantayy
MIRI, Sept 5: A total of 50 infrastructure projects under the Highland Development Agency (HDA) are now at various stages of implementation despite challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, says Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
Speaking at a press conference here after chairing HDA’s meeting earlier today, Uggah said, these projects include three road projects which have been completed; 17 projects under construction; nine projects in the detailed design stage; and a total of 21 projects, including 19 water supply projects which are expected to be tendered out soon.
“Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda) has made various interventions to complete the remaining projects in line with the Sarawak government’s initiatives such as granting extension of time (EOT) (84 days and 46 days) and waiver of LAD, and reducing minimum Interim Payments to contractors amounting to RM1,000,” he told the press.
Uggah pointed out that these projects will lay the foundation for the State government to implement various socio-economic programmes to improve the incomes and livelihoods of rural communities within the HDA area.
“In view of this, Recoda has appointed Unimas Holdings Sdn Bhd as the consultant to develop the Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) 2022-2026 for HDA with the main objective of the SEDP is to identify opportunities for the people to participate in socio-economic activities with greater private sector investment for economic growth in the short-, mid- and long-terms within the HDA area,” he added.
In other words, he said, the Sarawak government under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) led by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg are committed to developing more rural entrepreneurs.
In this regards, 52 potential socio-economic projects have been identified, encompassing eco-tourism, agriculture, forestry and aquaculture clusters.
“We will focusing on high value crops within the area,” he said.
Also present were Baram Member of Parliament Anyi Ngau, Deputy Minister in the Premier of Sarawak’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Dato Gerawat Gala and Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau. — DayakDaily
