KUCHING, July 8: Sri Aman town might soon be called Bandar Sri Aman and Sri Aman division might be renamed as Simanggang.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said he will bring up these name change proposals to the state cabinet as soon as possible to be deliberated.
“In principle I agree with this proposal of changing the division (name) to Simanggang and the town to Bandar Sri Aman.
“I will bring this proposal up to the cabinet and hopefully my colleagues will agree with this, because Simanggang is very famous among Sarawakians,” he said during the Anak Perantau Melayu Kuching Association 2019 Raya do at Kuching Civic Centre on Sunday night.
Historically, Sri Aman town used to be known as Simanggang. Presently, the administrative division the town is located in is also named Sri Aman while Simanggang is the name of a state constituency.
The name change was earlier proposed by Anak Perantau Melayu Kuching Association chairman Kameri Affandi in his welcoming speech.
He spoke about development and expansion plans for Sri Aman, including developing agricultural and commercial activities among the Simanggang Malay communities there.
With that, Abang Johari said he had revised the master plan to develop Sri Aman, by upgrading the road from town passing the Pesta Benak site all the way to the Malay villages there from a two-lane road to a dual carriage road to not only ease traffic but also beautify the town.
He also gave assurance that Sri Aman town would not be a ghost town even after the Pan Borneo Highway is completed which might prompt road users to bypass the town.
Abang Johari said with the Coastal Highway also under construction, more people would come to Sri Aman town through the Second Trunk Road between Lingga and Betong.
Meanwhile, on agricultural development, Abang Johari reminded the Simanggang Malays not to give away or sell their land because the state government has given RM1 million to the Sri Aman cooperative for these landowners to kickstart whatever projects they wished to do on their land.
“This is your capital to develop your agricultural sector and to work your land. Don’t just plant rice. Plant crops that have added value like pineapples, vegetables and other fruit trees with fertigation techniques.
“If your agriculture method is structured and you use technology like fertigation, this can give you high income and bring your community to greater heights,” he said. — DayakDaily
