Henry (fifth right) in a photo-call with community leaders and organising committee members during the Bau JKKK Chinese New Year dinner.
KUCHING: The people of Bau are set for a greater future thanks to the many development plans proposed for the town under the 12th Malaysia Plan, said Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Henry Harry Jinep.
He said the proposed plans include a dual carriageway from Batu Kitang to Bau that will costs RM180 million and another RM60 million project linking Bau to the Pan Borneo Highway.
“These projects are already in the design stage. Once these dual carriageways are completed, we will be able to witness the transformation of Bau into a vibrant and modern town,” he said during a Bau Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) Chinese New Year dinner here on Wednesday.
Aside from transportation infrastructure, Henry said the establishment of hotels, shopping complex, restaurants and cheaper housing would create abundant business opportunities for local folks, thus making it unnecessary for them to seek jobs in or relocate to cities such as Kuching.
He also shared that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has already approved the construction of the RM26-milion gold mine museum for Bau, to be submitted for inclusion under the 12th Malaysia Plan.
“Now, we have allocation given by the state government for as much as RM1.5 million to carry out research and study on setting up the gold mine museum here,” he added.
He also said a water-piping project connecting Batu Kitang to Bau – costing RM140 million – is expected to be completed by year end, and will ensure stable water flow to residential areas.
“Once Bau town has stable electricity and water supplies, aside from good connectivity, more houses will be built here. The mushrooming of housing projects will translate to a bigger local population and thus, more business opportunities.”
Building hotels with star ratings would also go a long way in turning Bau into a convention hub, enabling the town to welcome participants and visitors alike, he opined.
Separately, Henry said the relocation of Indonesia’s capital to Kalimantan would give rise to more business opportunities such as supplying food to the neighbouring country.
He said Serikin has a Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex equipped with good facilities, thus allowing the state to handle the expected rise in the number of visitors from across the border once the move to shift Indonesia’s capital is completed.