Abang Johari speaks to reporters today. – Photo by Ukas
KUCHING (June 24): Areas around the Vivacity Megamall in Tabuan Jaya has the potential to become a satellite area like Mid Valley City in Kuala Lumpur because of its location between Kuching City and Kota Samarahan, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“From the point of view of the development plan, this area will become a satellite area given its rapid development.
“This is because it is located in the middle between Kuching and Samarahan, with which we will build the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) route and stations along the way,” he said.
He said the establishment of several new strategic buildings along with ART infrastructure there will transform the area into an integrated city like Mid Valley City in Kuala Lumpur.
He was speaking at a press conference after attending a briefing on the Vivacity 2 and ‘Nest’ building project here today.
He said once the Vivacity 2 is completed, the areas around it will be touted as an integrated hub that will connect Samarahan and Kuching.
“With the construction of Vivacity’s second shopping centre and ‘Nest’, which I have been told that it will be a 50-storey building, it will provide another major development in the Jalan Wan Alwi area including up to Swinburne University of Technology because a new dormitory will be built there.
“If you look at it, the progress model is like an integrated development around the Mid Valley shopping center in Kuala Lumpur because there are also residential areas, hotels, commercial centres, hospitals and transport,” he added.
Abang Johari also elaborated on development of new roads from the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Hospital to the Sarawak Heart Centre in Kota Samarahan, and also from the centre to Tanjung Bako area, which in turn to be linked directly to Sejingkat via bridge.
“Therefore, Kuching and Samarahan will be connected to become one developing area by 2030 through the rapid growth of this area.
“With the value of housing here being relatively high, the Sarawak-Malaysia Second Home Programme (S-MM2H) programme will become a real estate industry and outsiders can buy housing here,” he said.
Present during the press conference were Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development permanent secretary Datu Zaidi Mahdi and Coramax Sdn Bhd managing director Sim Yaw Hang.