KUCHING: Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) chairman Dato Peter Minos is confident that the Batang Samarahan bridge will help boost economic activities in this township which in turn, help it attain city status by 2030.
“Kota Samarahan is already booming with property developments and surely, it will develop further. Every day, I see houses and shops popping up here, like mushrooms.”
“With population growth rate at six per cent every year, Kota Samarahan is the fastest developing place in Sarawak right now. With two universities (Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and Universiti Teknologi Mara) and other amenities, Kota Samarahan is the most prestigious residence in Sarawak – at least that is what many people have told me,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Minos said the ‘snowballing effect’ in Kota Samarahan was even more obvious with more investors and businessmen coming in, ‘literally by the day’. He listed Hock Seng Lee Bhd, Musyati, KTS and Aiman Group as among the ‘big development players’ there.
“Going at this rate, I predict that Kota Samarahan could become a city by 2030.”
On the Batang Samarahan bridge, Minos said the project was ‘great’ for MPKS, adding that news about its expected completion by February next year as announced by Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing recently had brought cheer to the people not only from areas under MPKS jurisdiction, but also the whole of Samarahan Division.
It is estimated that the bridge, upon its completion, could significantly reduce the travelling time between Asajaya, Simunjan, Muara Tuang and Kota Samarahan. It is also set to replace the ferry service at Muara Tuang.
“Only recently the Batang Sadong bridge – Malaysia’s longest river bridge – was officially opened. It is also in MPKS area. All know how vital the Batang Sadong bridge is to Sarawak, linking places and people and also ushering in progress of many kinds.
“MPKS is very fortunate – we have one bridge ready and another slated for completion by February 2018. Both bridges, directly and indirectly, will bring about development in Kota Samarahanl – we can be sure of this. As the MPKS chairman, I cannot be happier and I believe, so are the people under the council’s jurisdiction,” he said.
Nevertheless, Minos believed that there was still room for improvement as far as the township is concerned.
“Kota Samarahan is the best place to live and study in. We will keep up with the MPKS motto: ‘To make it a city that is clean, green and safe’. We will make it beautiful. With the support and assistance from other government agencies and also those from the private sector, I believe we can do it,” he said.