‘Kota Samarahan needs hospital, waste management system’

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Minos (fourth left), joined by his wife Datin Emy on his left, leads the cutting of the Malaysia Day cake.

Minos (fourth left), joined by his wife Datin Emy on his left, leads the cutting of the Malaysia Day cake.

KUCHING: Fast-growing Kota Samarahan needs a full-fledged hospital and a waste management system to cater for its rising population.

Newly-appointed Walikota of Samarahan Division, Dato Peter Minos, said the well-being of the people in Kota Samarahan must be looked into, since the town now has a population of 140,000 – the majority of whom are living in 80 housing estates in the area.

“We will talk with the health authorities for a hospital since we need one due to the fast-growing population.

“A 200-acre site is being identified for the waste management system, which is needed since there are a lot of waste generated from the housing estates and commercial centres in Samarahan. We will work together with Trienekens or other private entities on this,” he said.

Minos made these remarks during a Malaysia Day dinner hosted for him by Samarahan District Council at a hotel here on Saturday night.

He also revealed plans to reinforce Kota Samarahan’s image as ‘Kota Ilmu’ (City of Knowledge), which would include building a special welcoming arch after the Sungai Kuap Bridge near Taman Riveria, and landscaping from that arch to Muara Tuang.

“These will cost millions but we will look for the funds. We will urge the private sector developers to help us in landscaping and making their housing estates nice and beautiful.”

He added a ‘Medan Selera’ (food court) serving affordable food was also in the pipeline, as well as plans to build low-cost accommodation for off-campus students, especially those studying in public institutions of higher learning in and around Kota Samarahan.

“There are over 30,000 students in Kota Samarahan, with 18,000 in Unimas (Universiti Malaysia Sarawak), over 1,000 in UiTM (Universiti Teknologi Mara), and over 1,000 in both the Teachers Education Institute and Industrial Training Institute there.

“There must be some ways in making the lives of our students better and happier – we cannot just be happy to call Kota Samarahan ‘Kota Ilmu’ of Sarawak without looking after the students well, especially those in Unimas and UiTM which are the pride and prestige of Samarahan,” he said.

Noting high prices of private sector housing in Samarahan, Minos said he would also talk to developers to build affordable houses of RM250,000 or less per unit for families with combined monthly income of RM3,000.

He explained that such plans were to complement the good work done by former chief minister who is now the Head of State, Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who had built up Kota Samarahan from scratch until it had become ‘Kota Ilmu’.

“It is fitting that we build up more of Samarahan in honour of Tun Taib Mahmud. Yes, there are lots of things we can and must do for Samarahan, and we can do it with cooperation with other agencies and private sector, and engaging the local YBs (elected representatives).”

Meanwhile, Samarahan District Council acting secretary Ngerong Balan said Minos, with his wealth of experience in both public and private sector, would be of great benefit to the council in its planning and policies.