I am glad to see this area is now brighter than before.
Shamsudin Mohamad Ali
KUCHING: Generally residents in Satok area respond positively to the installation of Light Emitting Diode (LED) streetlights.
Shamsudin Mohamad Ali, 34, who has lived in Muhibbah area in Satok since he was born, said he had seen great progress in Satok and the installation of LED lamp posts was indeed another effort of Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) to make Satok a better place.
“I am glad to see this area is now brighter than before. It makes our Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration more merry too this year.
“We are thankful to DBKU and the government for their efforts to upgrade Satok area,” he said yesterday.
Apart from giving better security, he said the LED lights would also save cost in the long run as they run on lower watts compared to contemporary ones, adding it was worth it for the government to spend on the project.
“Even in our own household, we are now switching to LED products because they save us a lot of cost,” he added.
Other developments he had seen in the area, he said, include roads and street lightings, businesses establishments and air-conditioned suraus.
Faizah Abdullah, who lives in Haji Mataim road area, was glad that villages in Satok area were now brighter than before, and she was looking forward to seeing the whole of Satok area fully brightened up after the full completion of the project.
“I have a good feeling about this. I feel excited to see our ‘kampungs’ are now brighter,” she said.
Faizah, 21, said from what she knew, LED lights have longer life and produce higher light output at low temperature besides having many advantages compared with conventional lights.
Another resident, Mohamad Zaid Mohamad Yusuf, 19, said he felt the Hari Raya Aidilfitri this year was more beautiful and cheerful, thanks to the LED lights.
He said LED lights were more environment-friendly apart from energy saving, which would help the government to save more cost for other purposes.
“This year, the nights are bright with festive cheer now in the streets of Kampung Satok.
“We are glad to see some upgrade taking place in our area,” he said.
Last Wednesday, Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg launched the project to install the streetlights in a ceremony witnessed by Datuk Bandar of DBKU Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai and community leaders.
The project costing about RM1.2 million is part of DBKU’s citywide effort to create a clean, beautiful and safe Kuching.
To be done in stages, it will involve installing 295 new LED streetlights running on 90 watts on every street in Satok.
The first phase covering Jalan Haji Mataim, Jalan Muda Hashim, Jalan Parit Lama, Jalan Laruh and Jalan Patinggi Ali is in progress.
The second phase, which is expected to be done in November, will cover Jalan Satok, Jalan Kulas and Jalan Haji Taha.
Commercial and public areas already installed with LED streetlights are Padang Merdeka, Jalan Tun Haji Openg and Merdeka Plaza.
Taking into account environmental concerns, Abang Johari said this project would be extended to Darul Hana as well as other new development areas in the future.