By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, Sept 27: The state government is looking into enhancing urban development holistically to provide a conducive living environment for the people in the city.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said he has requested the town planning authority to provide a roadmap for the development of the city centre.
“I have asked the state planners to look into that one.
“Perhaps, we will have one exhibition centre so that the people know what are the limitations in this area and what is the volume of traffic in this area of the city and what are the types of meeting in certain locations,” he said during ‘A Sunday Morning with CM: Dialogue Session with Young Entrepreneurs in Sarawak’ held at a hotel here today.
Abang Johari who is Urban Development and Resources Minister noted that urban planning and development also incorporates good traffic management systems in the city.
He noted in certain cities, there were many buildings in one location and to a certain extent, it affects the traffic flow in the area.
He expressed his belief that city development in Sarawak should follow the model of cities in Australia rather than congested cities like Hong Kong and Singapore.
He emphasised that Sarawak has the advantage of having a vast amount of land.
With vast amounts of land, Abang Johari emphasised, it is ideal for the Autonomous Rail Transit (ART) to be used for the public transportation system in the Kuching city.
Earlier, George Ting, representing a property developer, asked Abang Johari whether the state government has a city master plan available for the public.
Ting also asked the chief minister whether there were policies by the state government that can guide private developers in the right direction on the development of Kuching city.
Meanwhile, ‘A Sunday Morning with CM: Dialogue Session with Young Entrepreneurs in Sarawak’ was an event organised by DayakDaily and Kuching Freelance Journalists Association (Pewarta) to provide an avenue for professional and young Sarawakian entrepreneurs from various sectors to engage with the Chief Minister and raise issues that mattered in order to steer Sarawak to greater heights. — DayakDaily
