Regional agency to be set up for outer Kuching to boost pace of agriculture development
Abang Johari cuts a cake to mark Father’s Day during the Open House yesterday. With him are (from right) Dr Sim, Gerawat, Sagah, Manyin, former deputy chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, Uggah, Baru, Juma’ani and other guests. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: A regional development agency for outer Kuching is being planned to further boost the socio-economic development of the area.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the area is suitable for the development of agriculture and has all necessary infrastructures.
“The area is called ‘outer Kuching’ because it (Lundu to Serian) is part and parcel of the outer Kuching area.
“It involves the area between Serian and Kuching, and Serian – as a division itself – has its own masterplan,” he said when asked on the progress of the Bidayuh Belt at a Gawai Dayak Open House held at the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) building, here yesterday.
The event was hosted by Dayak leaders of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) led by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.
Commenting further, Abang Johari said the outer Kuching development agency is different from the Integrated Regional Samarahan Development Agency (IRSDA) as the latter covers the area up to Sebuyau, while the former focuses on the area between Serian and Kuching.
“That is why we want to do the outer ring road in Samarahan right to BCCK (Borneo Convention Centre Kuching) to open up the land to more development,” he added.
During the recent State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting, Assistant Minister of Native Land Development Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn spoke on the creation of a dedicated regional development agency for Sarawak’s southern region to accelerate the pace of agricultural development.
Among those present at the event were Abang Johari’s wife Datin Patinggi Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, Works Minister Baru Bian, and Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian.
The PBB Dayak leaders involved in hosting the open house were Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin, Minister of Utilities Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi, Sagah, Kapit MP Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi and DUN Deputy Speaker Dato Gerawat Gala.