By Lian Cheng
SIBU, Feb 14: The Sarawak government’s total facelift of Sibu will start with the restructuring of the entire town which is expected to significantly boost the construction industry and later, tourism industry.
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said Sibu needs rejuvenation involving restructuring through Sibu masterplan.
The problem with Sibu, he said, is that it is low-lying and thus constantly faces floods and other related issues such as breeding of mosquitoes.
“We have to manage that with experts who have done Amsterdam (sic), who have done Singapore (sic). So we are working with them, based on their experience. So you have to restructure the whole of Sibu.
“That means there will be a lot of activities in Sibu, that will trigger construction. So once construction is completed, then the service sector will come to Sibu,” said Abang Johari when met by the media during his visit to Public Health, Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Datuk Michael Tiang’s house today in conjunction with Chinese New Year.
He said Sibu needs to be developed first by putting all necessary infrastructure and attractions in place before investors will come in.
Following the restructuring and the laying down of necessary infrastructure of Sibu, he believed that the service industry including tourism industry will come to Sibu to stay.
“Once you have got the lake there, the man-made lake, and with all the resort-type structures (near the lake), then people will come to Sibu.”
Abang Johari anticipates that when Sibu attracts more tourists and generates more vibrant economic activities, it will in turn catalyse the financial sector.
He said this would not be a huge task as Sibu’s former glory was founded on the timber industry, which at the same time, gave rise to many prominent businessmen, who he described as “big towkays” (rich tycoons).
Since the timber industry is a shadow of its former self and is unsustainable, Abang Johari believed the Sarawak government’s new masterplan and what it has in store for the riverine town will be a gamechanger for Sibu as a whole.
“But this one (the new Sibu masterplan) will be sustainable for at least the next 10 to 20 years,” said Abang Johari.
Also present were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Julaihi Narawi and President of Sarawak Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dato Sri Abang Abdul Karim Tun Openg. — DayakDaily
