By Dayangku Hidayatul
KUCHING, Feb 18: The people of Samarahan, including Asajaya, have been urged to focus on keeping pace with the region’s rapid development rather than merely eyeing gains from soaring land prices.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts and Asajaya assemblyman Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah highlighted that Samarahan is set for major transformation over the next five years, particularly under the leadership of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He pointed to key projects reshaping the region, including the autonomous rapid transit (ART) to Gedong, a new airport, a new deep seaport, and an elevated highway.
“If I were to identify each project one by one, other constituencies might feel envious. But I hope the people in Samarahan can move as fast as these developments,” he told a press conference held in conjunction with the D’Drift 2026 flagging-off ceremony at DayakDaily’s office today.
Abdul Karim cautioned against viewing the rising land prices purely as a means for personal profit.
“We do not want people to think, ‘How will my land shoot up and how can I profit if I sell it?’ This has been happening since the 70s. Back then, land in Asajaya was RM300 to RM500 per acre. Now, it’s over RM100,000 per acre. Government compensation is already huge, and every development creates a few millionaires,” he said.
However, he stressed that financial gains alone are not enough if not managed wisely, which is why his top priority in the area remains education.
He emphasised that funds from his Minor Rural Project (MRP) are primarily directed to educational initiatives, which have enabled hundreds of students from the area to attend public universities annually, which is a stark contrast to the 1970s and 80s when only a handful could pursue higher education.
“Money, if you don’t manage it properly, it will be finished. Only with education will our children be able to understand the importance of holding on to their land,” he added, reinforcing the message that long-term growth and community development must take precedence over short-term financial gains.
Reflecting on his five terms representing Asajaya, Abdul Karim added, “I’m quite blessed to be tasked with looking after Asajaya. This is my fifth term as assemblyman. I’ve been there for very long. Frankly, I know everybody down there. They become more like friends than constituents.” — DayakDaily
