Kanowit town to be extended — Abg Johari

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BUILD IT HERE: Abang Johari (third left) asking the developer on the progress of the housing project as others look on.

SIBU: Kanowit will become a vibrant town with the extension of its township and the opening up of more land for development, said Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg

Speaking at a press conference at ‘Rumah Mampu Milik’ (RMM) project site at Taman Dabai Indah in Kanowit, Abang Johari said he was optimistic because the people there had a strong economic base with the cultivation of oil palm and rubber.

He also said the building of housing facilities there was part of the government’s plan to develop the town.

“The income of the population has increased and the expansion of the town also requires public facilities including housing.

“I was informed by the people’s representatives here that there are a lot of demands for housing projects in Kanowit,” he said.

He said the town had good potential as it was very near to Sibu.

His ministry, he said, was planning to have an overall plan for Kanowit’s township extension that would include better infrastructure like roads and drainage systems.

Towards this direction, he said he and Machan assemblyman Datuk Gramong Juna would talk to the Drainage and Irrigation Department, particularly the minister in charge, Dato Sri Douglas Uggah, in order to provide the infrastructure that must be planned earlier to provide the extension of the town.

“But what’s most important is we must provide the necessary facilities to the community for them to participate in community-based projects,” he explained.

On Kanowit’s RMM project, he said he was satisfied with its progress although it was a bit behind schedule.

The project, which is 65 per cent completed, involves the construction of 68 units of house in Phase 1 and 129 units in Phase 2 on 9.45 hectares.

Phase 1 of the project is expected to be completed in December this year and selling price is RM50,400 for intermediate unit  and RM59,220 for corner unit.

Phase 2 would begin after the completion of Phase 1, Abang Johari said.

“The project is being implemented under the Second Economic Stimulus Package.

“The cost of Phase 1 is RM8.5 million and Phase 2 is RM15 million,” he said.

On a similar matter, he said part of the 10,000 houses under the ‘Rumah Mesra Rakyat’ project of Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad that was announced in Budget 2012 recently would be built in the state.

He said the government would continue to help the low-income group to own a house under this programme.

On 1Malaysia People’s Housing Scheme (PR1MA), he said the facility had not yet been extended to the state.

At the moment, he said it was only meant for the Klang Valley area.

“But for us, the supply of houses is enough to meet the demand. That is why we do not have problems in term of abandoned projects,” he said.

Also present at the function were Assistant Ministers of Housing Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, Land Development Assistant Minister Datuk Gramong Juna and Ngemah assemblyman Alexander Vincent.