RM500,000 for first phase of centre

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Dr Jerip (centre) cuts the ribbon to declare open the market. On his left is Mangan.

KUCHING: An allocation of RM500,000 has been approved for Biperoh Association Kuching (BAK) to implement the first phase of the Biperoh Cultural Centre project.

Assistant Minister of Transportation Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, when announcing this, said the allocation would be used to build one or two buildings that are really in urgent need.

He welcomes BAK’s plan to have its cultural centre, but it might have to be done in phases because the project is going to cost a few million ringgit.

“Today I announce RM500,000 under the rural transformation programme (RTP) to implement the first phase.

“After that, we will then see if there is a need to build other buildings before we proceed to the next phase,” he said at the launch of Biperoh Weekend Market at BAK community hall in Kampung Garung, Jalan Puncak Borneo near here yesterday.

Dr Jerip said building too many buildings at one go might be a waste of tax payers’ money if they are not fully utilised.

He said there were many cases of buildings being built but end up as white elephants because the owners could not maintain them.

Dr Jerip, meanwhile, commended BAK for its initiative to have the weekend market for the community to sell their agriculture produce for extra income.

He hoped the market could be sustained and even expanded in the future to enable more Biperoh people to participate in the activity.

He encouraged the public in the surrounding areas to come and patronise the weekend market, by buying what’s put up for sale.

BAK president Mangan Ngandok said stall operators could even start selling on Friday if they wanted to.

He also hoped that the Biperoh community themselves and the public would support the market for its sustainability.

Meanwhile, various activities were held in conjunction with the launching ceremony yesterday, which included karaoke sessions and live band performances.

Eighteen stalls operated during the launch, selling various products including food and beverages, jungle produce, handicraft and fresh fish.

The market is located at the BAK multi-purpose hall at the junction of Kampung Garung, Jalan Borneo Heights, about 40km from here.