BETONG: Once a small quiet bazaar that relied mainly on agriculture, Betong town has grown to become an important centre of administration for the division incepted in 2002.
The town witnesses a steady growth of new economic activities including ecotourism, besides enjoying continuous flow of development.
Under the state government’s 20-year Betong Structure Development Plan, Betong town will be developed into a holistic new township by 2022.
“Much development has taken place in the past couple of years. People here are more prosperous now and enjoy better living standards.
“People here used to depend on farming but now they can do other things like work in the ecotourism industry to increase their income. They can live more comfortably,” a Betong resident Yen Su told Bernama.
The 71-year-old coffee shop owner who lives his whole life here hoped that such progress and prosperity would be sustained for future generations.
Another resident, who only wished to be called Osne said he believed the people here were able to ride the wave of development due to the close ties between the state and federal governments.
He said the development plan for the town showed that the government also had clear views and hopes for its future. Betong town lies in the Layar state constituencies, which together with the Saribas and Bukit Saban state seats make up the Betong parliamentary constituency.
Despite having a relatively small populace of 10,000 people, the town boasts well developed town planning and facilities, including the state government administration building which locals dubbed mini Putrajaya, modern government quarters, stadiums, agriculture training centre, a vocational school, and a Mara Junior Science College (MRSM).
The college opened in 2009 is one of only three MRSM colleges in Sarawak.
The other two are in Kuching and Mukah each.
A resident in Betong, John said that compared to the 1970s, there was only one school here and students had to travel to other areas for their secondary education.
“But now not only our children in this area, but those from outside Betong have also benefited from this (education opportunity),” he said adding that his grandchild is also a student at the college.
Apart from that, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu revealed earlier this week that under the Plan, a metro polytechnic would be built here this year, attracting more professionals and white-collar workforce into the area.
Meanwhile, the government had also allocated RM3,000 each to 87 longhouses and villages in the vicinity for river clearing works to mitigate flood and facilitate river transport.
And to solve the flood woes of the people, the government had launched Batang Layar Flood Mitigation Project.
The RM30 million flood mitigation and riverbank beautification works along the Sungai Batang Layar which was approved under the 10th Malaysia Plan will commence in September. — Bernama