By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Oct 29: Gedong will be re-elevated as a hub for administration and trade like it once was, says Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He noted that Gedong was an administration and trade hub in the old days, but its development began to be left behind during Rajah of Sarawak Sir James Brooke’s era.
“That is why we can see Gedong’s existence on the old map at first, but when we have the new map, Gedong disappeared.
“Nevertheless, when Dato Sri Mohd Naroden Majais was elected as Gedong assemblyman, we managed to place Gedong back into the map,” he said during Simpulan Kasih event organised by Gabungan Pertalian Keluarga (GPK) Kuching held at a local hotel here last night (Oct 28).
Abang Johari, who is the incumbent Gedong assemblyman, further said to return Gedong to its prime, he has declared the area as a district as the first step.
From there, the Sarawak government has also announced many plans to develop Gedong, which include the ongoing construction of road infrastructure to connect the district with Simunjan and Serian, as well as the setting up of a mini satellite campus for Swinburne University and AgriHub@Gedong — a paddy transformation project initiated by Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus (UPMKB).
“Gedong had a very good history. What we have today was determined by the past, and Gedong’s future will be determined by what we plan for the next few years.
“We have a target that by 2030, we would elevate Gedong to return to its prime like back in the days when it was a centre for trade and administration,” Abang Johari added. — DayakDaily
