KUCHING: The state government will continue to develop areas under the Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) and will put great emphasis on physical development in the next five years.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said while the areas are being developed the rich cultural heritage at certain places areas would be preserved.
“Firstly, Darul Hana will be developed but preserved as a traditional village,” he said during DBKU’s ‘Friendly Neighbourhood Special Meeting With The Chief Minister’ at USCI Hotel yesterday.
He said with the community expanding, there was a need to develop other areas where the state government would build affordable houses.
“For those with river fronting properties, we will improve the riversides, and now we are building seawalls at Kampung Lintang up to Kampung Tanjong. In addition, the riverside up to Medan Niaga Satok will also be developed under the 12th Malaysia Plan,” he said.
Abang Johari said areas such as Satok, Semariang, and Santubong would definitely be improved, and Sejingkat area would also be developed into a traditional village.
“There is already a master plan for this including the construction of a bridge connecting Tanjong Bako, Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) and Samarahan area,” he said.
There are also development plans for areas up to Bako, Buntal, Santubong and Sungai Salak.
“These are our plans. If I am still chief minister, I can continue to implement them. It is up to you whether you want development or not. There will be a time for the people to decide. If you want these projects to go on, you know what to do,” he said, adding that only with peace and political stability can development projects be carried out smoothly.
Meanwhile, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs and DBKU) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi said DBKU would work closely with Old Kuching Smart Heritage (OKSHe) to develop part of DBKU areas particularly those with rich cultural heritage.
“We also need to preserve the old villages that have rich history and heritage,” he said.
