By Nur Ashikin Louis and Karen Bong
KUCHING, Nov 11: Samarahan can anticipate greater economic development in the next seven years up to 2030 with the establishment of important healthcare-related facilities and institutions that will drive high-paying jobs.
Highlighting this, Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg noted that rapid development and population growth have contributed to the chronic traffic congestion in Kota Samarahan currently.
With large amounts of traffic traversing the Kota Samarahan roadways have resulted in traffic jams, he said the smart traffic lights installed and road-widening projects to reduce the congestion were only temporary measures.
“That’s why we planned roads to be built that could help to disperse the heavy traffic along the main road. Apart from the normal road, another road construction is ongoing to connect Tanjung Bako to the new Sejingkat Bridge and straight to Petra Jaya.
“This area will be very busy and expanding with new developments to take place which we called the ‘cluster hub’ in Kota Samarahan. Sarawak Heart Centre and Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute (Tropi) are already here, while the Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre and a Cancer Centre are upcoming,” he said when officiating at the Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) 25th anniversary celebration at a hotel here tonight.
The Samarahan area, he emphasised, will become a health cluster that will bring in a lot of experts, researchers, professionals as well as high-paying jobs which in turn will require more housing developments to cater for the people.
Moreover, Abang Johari added that Tanjung Bako will see a new port development that will be connected to the coastal road.
“We can do this due to the long-term planning that we have between Kuching and Greater Kuching and Samarahan.
“As Kuching is the capital city and as such, the spillover to Samarahan will be there. With a development plan under the State along with expected increase in income through revenue reengineering approach, we will give back to the people through development that will be linked to Sebuyau straight to Lingga,” he explained.
Abang Johari said these three regions will see an overall integrated development that combines economic development, social development and environmental protection.
With more areas being opened up as developments are implemented, he pointed out that the land can be used for agriculture development using modern technology including Internet of Things (IOT) such as in Sebanggan heading to Asajaya, where a RM600 million project has been planned to enrich the area.
“We have requested Datuk Julaihi (Narawi) to initiate the replanting of coconut palm which can become another export commodity for Sarawak.
“So Samarahan is really booming. With a well structured agriculture development, RM1.5 billion to IRSDA (Integrated Regional Samarahan Development Agency) two years ago for projects, as well as an ongoing boulevard project, Samarahan will beat Petra Jaya,” he added.
The Premier’s wife Datuk Amar Jumaani Tuanku Bujang, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Development Aidel Lariwoo, Ministry of Local Government and Housing (MLGH) permanent secretary Datuk Antonio Kahti Galis, and MPKS chairman Dato Peter Minos were among those present. — DayakDaily
