KOTA SAMARAHAN: Fingers crossed for Kota Samarahan to be fully developed as a big and fine city by year 2050.
Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) chairman Datuk Peter Minos said that hopefully by 2050, the population of Kota Samarahan will reach at least 500,000 residents, and a city that is complete will all facilities in healthcare, education, commerce and administration.
“Ever since I’ve became chairman of MPKS in 2016, there are a number of new developments taking place in Samarahan, such as the expansion and development in Unimas and UiTM that has a new campus (Campus 2).
“As a result, in development of both public institutions, Unimas and UiTM saw an increase in student intakes, that means our two tertiary education bodies are doing very well and we are happy to know that.”
Minos added other developments in Samarahan were the setting up of Institute for Rural Advancement (Infra), a big training centre for rural community leaders.
“Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra) also has set up a big beautiful HQ office as an iconic building in Kota Samarahan.
“Besides that, we also witnessed the construction of Batang Sadong and Batang Samarahan bridges and these really helped in boosting development in this area,” he told New Sarawak Tribune.
Minos also noted the involvement of the private sectors that had set up Aiman Mall — shopping complex which consists of shops, eateries and offices.
“There are also an increasing number of shops, residential homes that have been constructed in the last five years.
“Now, we have over 40,000 new houses in Kota Samarahan, compared to in 2010 when there were only 20,000 houses,” he said.
Minos pointed out that Kota Samarahan is truly a big and fast growing residential town, with ‘The Promenade’ as the largest high class residential estate, which he described as ‘an iconic and impressive one’ in the area.
“We all know of the Sarawak General Hospital Heart Centre, Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute (Tropi), and teachers’ training centre and many other government centres here,” he added.
Minos noted that the state government will soon upgrade Jalan Dato Mohd Musa in Kota Samarahan from 9th Mile, Kuching-Serian road.
“Soon, traffic lights will be installed at Kota Samarahan’s key roundabouts, to ease serious traffic jam, and soon the government will link Kota Samarahan with Kuching by ART, the first of its kind in Sarawak, also as one of the ways to ease traffic congestion.
“We deeply appreciate this initiative and will also look forward to the coastal road, bridges, telecommunication towers, water supplies and many other projects to develop Asajaya and Sadong Jaya, the rural parts of Samarahan,” he said.
“Many things will come about in Samarahan now that there is Integrated Regional Samarahan Development Authority (IRSDA), and I believe Kota Samarahan will be fully developed with complete facilities and rise in population to eventually become a city,” he said.
