TIME FOR OUR PHOTOCALL: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem sharing a light moment with Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud prior to the official photocall for the first sitting of the fifth session of the 17th State Legislative Assembly at DUN Complex in Kuching yesterday. — Photo by Chimon Upon
THE state government’s continuous efforts on rural transformation with focus on providing and improving basic infrastructures are important to lure and expand economic activities in agriculture, commercial farming and tourism industries of Sarawak.
Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who highlighted this yesterday, said nearly 44 per cent of Sarawakians still live in rural and remote areas with huge economic potentials that can be developed for their benefit.
“The rural areas in Sarawak need basic infrastructure development including roads, water and electricity supply as well as health and education facilities in order to support economic activities and improve living standard of people,” he said in his address at the first sitting of the fifth session of the 17th State Legislative Assembly at the DUN Complex.
Private sector involvement, Taib pointed out, was also crucial in developing the economic potentials; notably in Tanjung Manis, Bakun, Murum, Tunoh, Baram, Sematan and Merapok.
“The government’s initiatives in encouraging private sector investments are measures that could have a positive impact on local communities especially in terms of opportunities in business and employment,” he said.
“I am confident the rural transformation plans will bridge the urban-rural gap,” he added.
The Pan Borneo Highway Project linking Tanjung Datu to Merapok that spans 1,076 km, Taib emphasised, would definitely enhance land transportation in Sarawak.
“This will improve our transportation and logistics system that will serve to integrate all economic activities as major towns will be connected,” he said.
“The highway to connect Sarawak with Brunei, Sabah and Kalimantan in Indonesia also promises to strengthen collaborations in the BIMP-EAGA region especially in investments, businesses and tourism,” he added. With Sarawak experiencing rapid development, Taib pointed out that there were groups of villages which had grown into township and subsequently into a city,” he said.