KUCHING: Balai Ringin is now under the Greater Kuching Development Coordinated Agency (GKCDA).
Deputy Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Martin Ben, who represented GKCDA chairman Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn, said the cabinet has agreed that Balai Ringin be included in the agency.
“The cabinet has agreed to include Balai Ringin in the agency as about 40 per cent of the constituency is administratively under Serian Division,” he told a press conference after officiating at the GKCDA Main Lab programme held at a hotel here today.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan expressed his gratitude to the committee for including his constituency in the agency.
“Initially, under my area, there are 100 villages which falls under the administrative of Serian Division and I was made to understand that the agency was approved at the cabinet meeting held in September of last year.
“So when I was told that the villages under the Serian Division was not included in the agency, I met with Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg to seek for his advice as 60 per cent of Balai Ringin falls under the Sri Aman Division’s administration, while the remaining 40 per cent is under Serian.
“The matter was discussed again in the cabinet meeting and most of them agreed to include Balai Ringin as part of the agency,” he said.
Snowdan thanked Abang Johari, saying the community leaders will be very happy with the news.
“As community leaders, they will go to the grassroots level to inform the 100 longhouse chiefs (tuai rumah) on the matter and they will be very happy to work together as a team,” he said.
For the record, GKCDA covers nine constituencies, namely Opar, Tasik Biru, Tanjong Datu, Serembu, Mambong, Tarat, Tebedu, Kedup and Bukit Semuja.
Also present were GKCDA special administrative officer Datuk Ik Pahon Joyik, Deputy Minister of Transport Datuk Henry Harry Jinep, and assemblymen John Ilus (Bukit Semuja), Miro Simuh (Serembu), Billy Sujang (Opar), Dr Simon Sinang Bada (Tebedu) and Azizul Annuar Adenan (Tanjong Datu).
