By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, June 12: The State government will establish a new agency called the Greater Kuching Coordinated Development Agency (GKCDA) to focus on Greater Kuching where the major Bidayuh areas are located.
This announcement was made by Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg during his speech at the Bau Gawai Open House 2022 event which was held today at Bau Civic Centre.
“I acknowledge the support of the Bidayuhs, and your representatives have spoken in the State Legislative Assembly asking for a special way to develop Bidayuh areas.
“So today, I want to announce that we will set up the GKCDA,” he said.
Abang Johari noted that he will look into how the agency will work and will discuss with Bidayuh leaders on devising a framework.
He added that the new agency is in line with the State government’s strategy to accelerate development across Sarawak.
“If you look at the peninsula, it is about the same size as Sarawak, but it has many States and that’s why it can develop fast.
“We are big, but there are no states within the territory of Sarawak.
“So we set up agencies such as this to coordinate and focus on development, and that is why I formed this agency,” he explained.
Meanwhile, when approached by reporters, Abang Johari revealed that the GKCDA model will be similar to the Integrated Regional Samarahan Development Agency (IRSDA).
“The idea is this, when we give them the development grant then they can coordinate the implementation of the project.
“The model is similar to IRSDA. But it’s not a formal statutory body, it is just an agency that coordinates all the development projects that we have approved for this area.
“There are a lot of projects that have been approved but the question now is the implementation, and this way the agency will play its part,” the Premier stated.
Previously, four Bidayuh elected representatives comprising Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh, Tebedu assemblyman Dr Simon Sinang Bada, Bukit Semuja assemblyman John Ilus, and Opar assemblyman Billy Sujang called on the Sarawak government to set up an agency to stimulate economic activities for the Bidayuh community especially in areas along the shared border with Indonesia. — DayakDaily
