Hee (left) and Sia show the newspaper cuttings of the news about Ting’s visit to the park and his inspection on the suspension bridge there.
MIRI (April 15): The youth section of Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak has proposed the maintenance of two public parks here to be managed by the federal government.
DAP Socialist Youth (Dapsy) Sarawak chief Peter Hee made this proposal in view of Miri City Fan and Bulatan Park requiring substantial funds for their upkeep.
According to him, the proposal is meant to help defray the high cost for maintenance by Miri City Council (MCC).
“As a Mirian, I am offering my service to the MCC to forward this issue to the federal government.
“It is the responsibility of Mirians and the council to ensure that these iconic parks are properly maintained for the benefit of the people using these recreational facilities in the city,” he said at a press conference yesterday, where DAP Miri’s Action Unit head Alan Sia was also present.
The press conference was called in response to a recent visit by Deputy Minister I of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak Datuk Sebastian Ting, to Miri Public Park – a popular 20-acre recreation area here where the main attraction is its suspension bridge.
According to Hee, the suspension bridge has always accommodated throngs of visitors in the evening, and would receive more during weekends and the holiday season.
“This suspension bridge requires repairs, and I am willing to assist the MCC in pushing for more funds from the ministry in charge of the local government to rehabilitate the run-down facilities here (Miri Public Park).
“Good maintenance of public recreational parks is the responsibility of the city council. Thus, I would like to remind the mayor and the MCC – do not be obsessed with building more assets if they could not afford or be capable of looking after such assets,” he said.
Located along the Miri-Bintulu Road and about 3km from the city centre, Miri Public Park was designed to showcase beautiful gardens, playgrounds with children’s swimming pool, a canteen and an observatory platform.
However, a member of the public, Peter Kallang, had complained to The Borneo Post in February this year about the park ‘having turned into an eyesore, with many of the facilities being out of order’.
Last September, Minister of Transport Sarawak Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin announced that the park would undergo extension and upgrading works.
The project, costing RM1.5 million, was supposed to reach completion in 12 months.