DEVELOPMENT PROJECT: Suliaman (left) briefing Abang Johari and others at the site of the housing project in Semop, Pulau Bruit.
SIBU: An allocation amounting to RM45 million has been set aside to develop Semop in Pulau Bruit, about 90km from here.
Minister of Housing Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, who announced this yesterday, said RM16 million was from the federal government for the setting up of a housing estate, particularly for poor fishermen.
“The other RM29 million will be allocated by the state government to implement facilities such as roads, water and electricity,” he said after attending a briefing on the projects by LCDA general manager Datu Suliaman Hussaini at SK Semop.
He was accompanied by Assistant Minister of Housing Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Tanjung Manis MP Datuk Norah Abdul Rahman and Semop assemblyman Abdullah Saidol.
Abang Johari, who is also Minister of Tourism, said the proposed housing estate would be implemented as soon as possible.
Implementation of the housing estate, to be located in the Rural Growth Centre (RGC) not far from SK Semop, would be carried out in phases. Phase I would have 37 houses, while Phase II would have more than 100 houses.
“There would also be training centres for youths to upgrade their skills in the agriculture sector,” he said.
Abang Johari added that the government would also be focussing on tourism in Semop as places such as Kampung Sebako was rich in biodiversity and culture.
Its tourism potential could be unearthed because there is road accessibility to Semop from places such as Sibu, Tanjung Manis and Belawai, he said.
To ensure that Semop prosper, Abang Johari hoped that the locals would continue to support the BN government.