(From left) Dr Sim’s wife Enn Ong, Sharifah Hasidah, Naroden, Dr Sim, Mohamad Morshidi, Jumaani and Abang Johari performing the cake-cutting at the `Sejiwa Senada’ appreciation dinner.
KUCHING: Development in urban areas, particularly suburban neighbourhoods, will not be sidelined even though the government’s policy will be rural biased in the next five years.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said focus had turned rural to control rural-urban migration issues and to boost job opportunities in the rural areas.
Citing a 2010 survey, he said 52 per cent of the state’s population was living in the urban areas and the rest in the rural areas.
Something has to be done with rural-urban migration, he pointed out, as it was exerting space, housing and social pressures on the society.
“At the end of the day, we (just) want our people to have reasonable income and play their roles in economic development,” he said at the `Sejiwa Senada’ appreciation dinner here on Saturday.
Abang Johari was representing Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem to officiate at the function.
On another matter, Abang Johari, who is also Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, said the state could not solely depend on commodities like oil and gas, palm oil to fuel its economy.
“We should also enhance our services sector, which will have a spill-over effect on the rural economy.”
On the proposed Pan Borneo Highway, he said tourists would be able to enjoy the beauties of the state’s countryside once this mammoth project is completed.
“You know very well the impacts this highway will have on the rural areas. It can transform the rural economy through tourism.”
Abang Johari opined the state should emulate New Zealand, which was once an agriculture nation, but tourism is now its number one sector.
“With the attractions we have in place, I’m confident our future is bright.”
He urged the private sector to continue working closely with the government to help materialise all that had been planned for the state.
Also present at the dinner were Abang Johari’s wife Datin Amar Jumaani Tuanku Bujang, Minister of Local Government Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, Assistant Minister for Resource Planning Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, Assistant Minister for Early Childhood Education and Family Development Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani and Deputy State Secretary Datu Misnu Taha.