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By Chris Bishop and Shikin Louis
SERIAN, July 15: Serian is the small New Zealand of Sarawak, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said the division is home to mountains, hills and rivers which could be developed as tourist attractions and landmass for agriculture.
“When you think of Serian, imagine New Zealand.
“New Zealand’s population is only about 5 million; it has more sheep than people. However, it is a developed country where it has developed its rural areas in terms of its roads, hills and lake.
“If you have been to New Zealand, I am sure you have been to Lake Taupo. So what’s stopping us from developing our own Lake Danu with the infrastructure that can attract tourists?
“I have something in mind for that particular lake that has a Sarawak flag – that Sarawak flag must fly and we develop it as an area where foreigners can invest in terms of tourism,” he said when officiating the Serian Divisional-level 60th Anniversary of Sarawak Merdeka celebration held at Serian Conference Centre (SCC) here today.
For a start, he said the development plans for Serian will be implemented by Greater Kuching Coordinated Development Agency (GKCDA) which has been injected with a capital allocation of RM1.5 billion.
At the event, Abang Johari officiated the SCC building which started construction in 2020 at a cost of RM87 million and reached completion on March 25 this year. The contractor was Sarawak Incorporated Sdn Bhd (SISB) with Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR) as the implementing agency.
Also present were Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar; Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; and Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn. — DayakDaily
