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By Shikin Louis
SIBU, Aug 7: The first phase of the Bukit Assek Redevelopment Plan in Sibu, covering an area of 201 hectares, would begin at the end of next year, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said Bukit Assek had been profiled to be 1.5 meters below the river level.
Thus, the Sarawak government has appointed the Danish company Ramboll as as the consultant to conduct a study on flood risk assessment for the area. The study is in progress and is to be completed by July 2024.
“I think the first phase in terms of infrastructure development will (begin) around the end of 2024, and this project will take beyond ten years for us to develop the whole area because there are a lot of technical things that we have to do. That is Bukit Assek.
“Then, the whole Sibu town’s landscape will change. This is a game changer, and Sibu’s economy up to 2035 will be propelled or moved by the construction industry, which will create a lot of jobs in the construction sector.
“Upon the completion of the whole exercise, Sibu will become a different Sibu that will attract investment and services, particularly tourism, healthcare, and so on,” he said at a press conference after visiting Kampung Datu redevelopment project at Kampung Datu Baru here today.
The Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA) will oversee the whole redevelopment plan together with the private sector.
For Kampung Datu, Abang Johari said some residents would be retained in the area while others would be relocated in the village’s redevelopment exercise.
He also said a small river in the village would be connected to the Bukit Assek Redevelopment Plan by constructing lakes and canals using a similar model to develop Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
“Up to 2036, we will pump in the injection of development funds for this area, and the development will be together with the private sector.
“We will also develop a certain place to relocate those affected by the redevelopment project,” he added.
At the same time, according to a media release issued today after the State Development Coordination Committee Meeting No. 4/2023 chaired by Abang Johari, Sarawak Implementation Monitoring Unit (SIMU) reported that there are a total of 153 projects (16 non-physical projects) approved for Sibu Division with a total ceiling of RM746.5 million.
As of July 31, 62 projects (40.5 per cent) have been completed, 36 projects (23.5 per cent) are under various stages of implementation, and 39 projects (25.5 per cent) are under the planning stage. — DayakDaily
