by DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 6: The Sarawak government has allocated RM1.96 billion to enhance water accessibility across Kapit Division, with an additional round of funding expected to be channelled to the Upper Rajang Development Agency (URDA) and Regional Corridor Development Authority (RECODA) to spur socio-economic growth in the region.
Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg announced this during a press conference after chairing the Sarawak Development Coordination Committee Meeting (SDCCM) in Kapit, today.
“We are also developing several important roads, including roads that connect Baleh Dam and also to various Rumah Panjang along the Baleh river.
“And we have approved RM122 million for the settlement project at Merirai, which will begin construction sometime next year.
“There are other spur roads that are being constructed through JKR as well as the other agencies through URDA,” said Abang Johari, who is also chairman of RECODA.
“Overall, most of the projects are quite satisfactory in terms of implementation,” he added.
“We will continue under the 13th Malaysia Plan. And URDA and RECODA will get certain financial injections for them to continue with various proposed projects,” he said, adding that the next round of funds will more likely be to boost the socio-economy in the region.
“Once accessibility is there, the market is there. And the market is beyond this area. In fact, beyond Sarawak, we can market our product overseas,” he said.
Of note, RM1.5 billion in alternative funding has been approved for URDA, covering 42 projects, including major road and bridge works, water supply initiatives, and the ongoing Kapit Master Plan, which charts a sustainable and well-planned urban growth strategy for the region.
URDA has also implemented 24 socio-economic programmes under the COMMUNITY@SCORE initiative, benefiting local entrepreneurs, farmers, and small-scale industries in agriculture, fisheries, and rural enterprise development.
The meeting was also attended by Minister of Works and Kapit MP Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, and other senior state officials and key implementing agencies, including RECODA. – DayakDaily
