State government identifying sites to resettle Malay communities in Sibu, Bintulu to villages with modern facilities
Abang Johari cuts the sacrificial meat flanked by Dr Rahman (left) and Misnu. Looking on behind Abang Johari are Juma’ani (left) and Sharifah Hasidah. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: The state government will build modern villages to resettle selected Malay communities in Sibu and Bintulu.
Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state is in the process of identifying suitable land for the proposed projects.
“We have yet to identify the tapak (site). We have not got the details yet,” he told reporters after distributing sacrificial meat at Masjid Darul Hana in Petra Jaya here yesterday.
Abang Johari said he could not divulge more information for fear that the price of land would soar, thereby increasing construction costs.
During his speech earlier, the Chief Minister said the government would construct more affordable houses under the Darul Hana Development Project with the aim of changing the lifestyles of Kampung Seberang Hilir residents.
He said the housing project would be implemented to ensure residents would not have to worry about being in heavy debt.
“We do not want residents to worry about settling debts while having a more comfortable and modern home.
“We want to develop Darul Hana as a modern Malay village to serve as home to several villages in Kampung Seberang Hilir. The first phase of Darul Hana housing project will commence soon and is expected to be completed in two years.
“And once Darul Hana is successful, we will expand it to other places like Sibu and Bintulu,” he said.
Abang Johari also proposed a trust board be set up for the Darul Hana Development Project at Jalan Tun Salahuddin here.
He said the board would help homeowners manage their properties so that they do not end up being sold off by their heirs.
“Sometimes when the property owner passes away, the one who inherits it just sells it off and in the end, they lose the property. So we want a trust board to help look after the properties of the Malay community,” he said.
On Hari Raya Aidiladha, Abang Johari said the Muslim community must observe and practise the culture of sacrifice for the greater good of society and the country as a whole.
Earlier, Assistant Minister of Rural Electricity Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi said 11 cattle were sacrificed and distributed among some 300 recipients.
He said the entire Darul Hana project is for 12 villages including Seberang Hilir, Boyan and Bintawa Hilir.
“This project was initiated by former Chief Minister and now Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud in 2010 to provide a more conducive living environment for the people,” he said.
Dr Abdul Rahman pointed out that the Darul Hana housing projects would meet the needs of 2,600 households and 4,000 extended families.
He said the projects would eventually transform that area of Petra Jaya into a modern Malay village.
“The first phase of the housing projects will be meant for three villages, namely Kampung Semarang, Kampung Pulo and Kampung Panglima Seman Lama comprising 504 families,” he added.
Among those present were Abang Johari’s wife Datin Amar Datuk Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, Assistant Minister of Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, and Sarawak Islamic Council president Datu Misnu Taha.