By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Aug 7: Sarawak housing sector must also be considerate to the elderly as reports estimated Sarawak’s average age of population to be 70 years old between 2030 to 2050.
Noting this as a sign of population aging due to rising life expectancy, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the elderly, aged over 70, will need social support in which architects and developers must include into houses and residential properties in the State.
While Sarawakians continue to prefer either high-rise or landed properties, he said social services like nursing homes must be provided in the housing community so that when the number of old people increases, they can continue to lead healthy and active lifestyles.
This is one of the ways to add value to resources available to Sarawak, which is of vast land size, in order to prepare a conducive living environment for present and future generations, he stressed.
Abang Johari also pointed out the importance of a green environment in line with environmental sustainability which is one of Sarawak government’s core values in the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
“Against that background when Sarawak government emphasises on environmental sustainability, there is a cost to it, which is to change the way we plan and to increase the people’s income levels.
“This is why between now and 2030, Sarawak will strive to double its GDP (Gross Domestic Product) from RM136 billion to RM282 billion. So, both private and public sectors have to work hard towards it,” he said.
When Sarawak is sufficiently connected through physical and digital connectivity, he expressed confidence that foreign investors and workers would pile in, which will increase the overall purchasing power and boost the economy in the State.
In terms of quality living, Abang Johari said the low-income groups in Sarawak need to be cared for as well, similarly to how the Sarawak government builds affordable housing and provides housing loans with the lowest interest rates.
“This is to ensure the low income groups have access to affordable but quality living. With that, there must be a certain living standard benchmark.
“So, we hope in towns and suburb areas, we have planned townships where we can develop and embrace all these values,” he said during the architecture competition Langit’s prize giving ceremony at Hock Seng Lee (HSL) Tower, La Promenade here today.
Langit is billed as Sarawak’s first architecture competition that called for the best design ideas of a mixed-use high-rise in Kuching’s central business district (CBD), organised by HSL in collaboration with Next Phase (NP) and Malaysian Institute of Architects Sarawak Chapter (PAMSC).
Launched since March and received 112 registrations from across Malaysia, the competition carries a simple name ‘Langit’ which means ‘sky’ in Malay while in Bahasa Sarawak ‘lang’, it can be defined as ‘a door’.
The design plot assigned was a 0.78 acre of land along Jalan Tabuan, opposite the Inland Revenue Tax Academy, and within a one-kilometre radius of commercial developments such as offices, condominiums, shopping malls, hotels and schools.
The first prize was bagged by Sarawakian architects Jascinta Yii and Alan Kueh while the first runner-up went to Lee Shyan Luen and Justin Lee, and second runner-up to Hung Sing Ing. Moh Ung Tai from UT Moh Architect and Wong Leong Hong from Arkitek LH Wong were two others who received honourary mentions from the jury panel.
Among those also present at the ceremony this morning were Minister for Local Government and Housing Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, HSL managing director Datuk Yu Chee Hoe, NP director Yu Ji, PAM president Datuk Ezumi Harzani, and PAMSC chairman cum Langit competition convenor Ar Chai Si Yong. — DayakDaily
