Abang Johari: Sri Aman town will revert to its old name Simanggang

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Abang Johari (centre) and other guests watch the welcoming dance.

SRI AMAN: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has announced today that Sri Aman town will revert to its old name Simanggang.

The name of the division, however, remains as Sri Aman Division.

Speaking at the launch of 2019 Pesta Benak (Tidal Bore Festival) today, he said the name change was an unanimous decision made by the cabinet due to request from the people of the area.

“Simanggang has a long history, and it has been the name of this town for so long before it was changed to Sri Aman.

“The name Sri Aman also has historical significance to commemorate the place where an agreement was signed to put an end to communist insurgency in Sarawak.

“Therefore, we at the cabinet agreed this town will be called Simanggang and the division is to be called Sri Aman,” he said and this was met by loud applause from the crowd.

On the development of Sri Aman, he assured that the division and the Simanggang town will not be by-passed.

He said Simanggang town for example, will be the focal point for travellers along the coastal road network and second trunk road now being built by the state government.

These new road networks, he added, will link Sri Aman to Betong and other parts of Sarawak.

“There will be two bridges linking Sri Aman to the coastal road and second trunk road, both bridges crossing Batang Lupar. JKR (Public Works Department) has tendered out the project to build one of those bridges.

“The other bridge, on the other hand, will cost us RM1 billion. We are going ahead with building it although some others (the federal government) had pulled out despite promising to help us with the funds. This project, God-willing, will be tendered out by the end of this year,” he said, referring to the 5.1km Batang Lupar bridge which will be the longest in Sarawak.

He also mentioned there are many development programmes planned by Sarawak government for Sri Aman which are to be proposed in the coming 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).

This included a new and bigger Civic Centre to replace the current one.

He also assured that Simanggang will be built a modern town in line with the development coming to the area.

“With many lands to be opened up due to the new bridges and roads, we expect Sri Aman to be centre for agriculture as well. We hope the people here will be involved in farming using modern methods including internet of things (IoT). We will provide training for them,” he said.

Among those aso present at the event were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Housing and Local Government Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, State Secretary Datuk Amar Jaul Samion, State Legislative Assembly speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar and former deputy chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang.