KUCHING, Feb 14: Once completed, all five phases of the Batu Kawah Riverbank Park will provide economic opportunities for the local community in Batu Kawah constituency, according to Deputy Chief Minister Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian.
In a social media post, he said the 2-kilometre-long landmark reflects inclusiveness (development shared with all races), healthy living concepts, as well as sustainable development with the environment (natural riverbank wetlands).
Dr Sim revealed he had been informed by Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) deputy secretary Goh Thiam Ho that the implementing agency will tentatively open the park to the public in April.
He said the tender for Batu Kawah Riverbank Park Phase 5 (Kampung Rantau Panjang riverbank) after it was re-tendered in Dec 2021, should be awarded by Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Sarawak, the implementing agency, to a successful contractor soon.
He also said the ceiling cost for the project has increased from RM10 million to RM15 million due to a substantial increase in cost of materials last year.
Apart from that, Dr Sim who is also the Batu Kawah assemblyman noted, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg had also approved RM5 million for Batu Kawah Riverbank Park Phase 3, connecting the existing park construction to Phase 4 and Phase 5.
He added that Batu Kawah Riverbank Park Phase 4 which is funded by the federal government. The project has been reinstated by the previous Perikatan Nasional (PN) government under then Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin after being ‘KIV’ (Keep-In-View) by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government in 2018. — DayakDaily
