By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Oct 29: The Sarawak government is planning to expand Semariang with a new housing scheme stretching along the Batang Salak river next year, says Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“We will open a new housing scheme from the river near SK Semerah Padi up to the river behind Kpg Semariang to expand the traditional housing settlement in order to accommodate the extended families of local residents.
“I have given the allocation to the Land and Survey Department to implement the housing project including ‘tembok’ (filling) works. We will give two options, where people can choose whether they want the government to build the house or they can build their own.
“This will start next year under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP),” he said when presenting land titles under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code to Semariang constituents broadcasted live on Sarawak Public Communications Unit’s (Ukas) Facebook page today.
Abang Johari further said that the similar housing scheme will be implemented in other parts of Sarawak such as Gedong, Santubong, Kabong, Simunjan and around Kuching.
He also said the State government has lowered down the land premium rate by 50 per cent for residential lots and not more than RM2,500 for each lot to alleviate the burden of low-income people.
At the same time, Abang Johari advised Sarawakians to be aware of fraud, whereby there are cases of people from outside Kuching, who intend to settle down in the city, were cheated into paying thousands of ringgits to purchase a land lot which does not even belong to the seller.
“If you wish to buy a land lot, please inquire with the Land and Survey Department whether the land belongs to the government or not and if it falls under a housing scheme or not.
“This is because there are cases of which our people from Simunjan who came to Satok long time ago were cheated because they were told that they are allowed to build their houses in the area and they must pay thousands of ringgit. However, that is not even his land but it is the government’s,” he elaborated.
At the event, a total of 83 land titles were issued to Semariang residents from Semariang Tanah Merah (52), Semariang Wawasan Jaya (16), Semariang Batu (8), Semariang Batu PH.2 (6) and Semariang Pinggir (1).
The sum is an addition to 566 land titles issued to the residents of Semariang held at the Old State Legislative Assembly (DUN) building on Aug 6, 2015.
For the record, Land and Survey Kuching Division has issued a total of 760 land titles under Section 18 this year.
Amongst those present were Semariang assemblywoman Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) mayor Datuk Junaidi Reduan, Ministry of Urban Development and Natural Resources (MUDeNR) permanent secretary Datuk Zaidi Mahdi, State Land and Survey deputy director (Management) Awang Zamhari Awang Mahmood, Kuching District officer Awang Yusup Awang Mostapha and Land and Survey Kuching Division superintendent Alfian Bawi. – DayakDaily
