Development plans for rural areas crucial – DCM

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Jaujan (middle) with other invited guests and the participants of JPBW’s ‘Department Re-Branding Workshop’.

KOTA KINABALU: The Town and Regional Planning Department Sabah (JPBW) should implement development plans for rural areas instead of focusing only on urban areas.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Jaujan Sambakong said the rural areas of Sabah were also in need of a balanced development as this was important to enable the rural folks to enjoy the necessary facilities such as clean water supply and comfortable housing.

“If a balanced development can be achieved in the future, it would reduce the migration of young people to the cities and this in turn could avoid squatter and social issues from occurring in the state,” he told reporters after officiating at the JPBW’s ‘Department Re-Branding Workshop’ at TH Hotel here yesterday.

“Rural development does not only concern planned developments as it must also be equated with the industry sector, which in turn will create more job opportunities for these rural folks,” he reckoned.

In view of this, Jaujan who is also the Local Government and Housing Minister, expressed his hope that all 24 local authorities (PBTs) in the state would be able to realise the said vision.

Earlier in his speech, Jaujan pointed out that the rural areas were far behind in terms of infrastructure, facilities, access and so on compared to city areas.

This has inadvertently increased the migration rate of Sabahans to other states or even other countries.

“This will leave a long-term negative impact on the rural areas, whereby the youths will continue to be deprived of the access to job opportunities, education facilities, healthcare and Internet facilities,” he asserted.

He opined that the State Government was in need of new ideas that can help develop the landscapes of the rural areas as they can open doors to more job opportunities for youths.
Commenting on the workshop, Jaujan said that the focus and idea of it was to empower the rural development through a development context that is sustainable.

Jaujan, who described the workshop as a proactive action, said that such initiative could give a breath of fresh air to JPBW; thus bringing in positive changes and improvements in the state’s development planning.

He wants the participants of the workshop to utilise the opportunity given to them and to exchange their views with the other related departments and agencies.

Also present at the event were the Permanent Secretary to the Local Housing and Government Ministry Datuk Ginun Yangus and JPBW director Mursidi Sapie.