KABONG: The state government has allocated millions of ringgit to develop and improve various facilities here to boost the local economy including tourism and provide services for the community.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the improvement of facilities was in keeping with Kabong’s status as a district.
“Firstly, we are going to build a new district office. This will cost around RM7 million and it will be fully equipped to provide more efficient and effective government services.
“This new office will provide a more suitable avenue for the Kabong community to meet with government officials,” he said.
He said this at a press conference after visiting the project site for water supply system in Betong Division, Package 1 – Water Supply on Saturday (Sept 18). Earlier, he also attended a briefing on development projects in Kabong District.
The chief minister said a second project was the development of Kabong New Town, covering an area of approximately 27 acres.
“We will develop a new market, a place for small trading, and also housing areas in the new township,” he said.
Abang Johari said a new community hall costing some RM5.5 million would also be developed, which would be able to accommodate 300 people.
In addition, he said a new mosque costing RM14 million would be built to provide facilities for the community here, including a space to hold akad nikah ceremonies.
He said another project would entail the upgrading of the water supply channel.
“Now, Kabong already has its water supply channel, and we will connect the pipeline to Ulu Roban,” he said. This would cover six longhouses in the Ulu Roban area.
“It will cost RM15 million and I have given the allocation to the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) to continue these efforts of supplying water to Kabong and on to Ulu Roban. This will start next year and perhaps it will be completed by the end of the year,” he said.
As the agricultural area around Sungai Benang here is experiencing erosion due to Sungai Seblak, he said he had requested the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) to look into the implementation of a canal as a long-term solution to alleviate the erosion issue in the area.
“We have done this in Gedong and I can see that the situation is similar, so we can construct this canal. This will not negatively impact the agricultural area; the area will be even more fertile,” he explained.
Abang Johari said the cost of this project had not been determined yet, requesting DID’s technical team to first review and make suggestions in this regard. He estimated that the project would cost between RM15 million to RM30 million.
“I observe that Kabong will develop similarly with Saratok and it will be the corridor which can bring more structured development, and it is in line with the development of our coastal road.
“I believe that if we develop Kabong similarly with other areas, its future is bright in terms of agriculture and its economy,” he said.
He emphasised that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government had both long-term and short-term plans to help the community in Kabong.
