By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, July 11: The transformation of Sibu into a more sustainable and flood-resilient city using an approach inspired by Amsterdam could take between 15 and 20 years, says Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said the Sarawak government was looking at a long-term redevelopment plan for Sibu that would address the town’s unique geographical challenges while creating a new economic direction for the central region.
Speaking during a press conference after the Sarawakku Sayang programme in Sibu today, Abang Johari said international experts had been engaged to study development approaches in the Netherlands, particularly Amsterdam’s water management system.
“We have asked international experts to study development in the Netherlands. If you compare Amsterdam and Sibu, the conditions are similar. One is by the sea and one is by the river, but the situation is more or less the same,” he said.
He further said Sibu’s challenge was that its land level was lower than the river, making flood mitigation and water management among the key considerations in its future development.
“Therefore, we need to rebuild Sibu. If we look at Bukit Assek, it is too dense, and at the same time, it is not good for the people staying there. There are problems with stagnant water and flooding,” he said.
Abang Johari also said Sibu could learn from Amsterdam’s approach, which uses channels and waterways to manage water.
“In Amsterdam, they have many channels and water passages. This is what we want to do in Sibu. My estimate is around 15 years, if not 20 years, to redevelop Sibu according to the plans prepared by our experts,” he said.
He said the planning phase would take about five years, after which implementation would be carried out in stages.
“After planning, it is implementation. The implementation will be done in stages because it involves urban development, including managing stagnant water and creating artificial lakes.
“If Sibu follows the plan, it will become beautiful,” he said.
Abang Johari said this long-term vision was also why he agreed with Nangka assemblyman Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee and other elected representatives on the need for a dedicated agency to oversee Sibu’s development.
Although initially proposed as a development authority, he said he renamed it the Sibu Economic Zone due to the complexity of Sibu’s transformation, which requires a multi-sector approach.
“The other side is not so much on urbanisation. The other agencies focus more on infrastructure and the agricultural sector.
“But Sibu is already developed. The issue with Sibu is that its land is lower than the river. This becomes a challenge, but we have engineering methodologies to develop Sibu within this framework,” he said.
He added that improved infrastructure connectivity would further strengthen Sibu’s economic potential, particularly in attracting service-based industries such as tourism, finance and insurance.
With the completion of the Second Trunk Road through Roban expected around 2029, Abang Johari said the journey between Kuching and Sibu could be reduced to about two hours.
“The journey between Sibu and Kuching will be reduced to two hours. The distance is 212km,” he emphasised. — DayakDaily
