MIRIANS can look forward to more development projects and more efficient services with the implementation of the Miri City Strategy Plan.
Mayor Adam Yii said this out during July 23’s swearing-in ceremony for the re-appointments of the city’s Mayor, Deputy Mayor and councillors.
He pointed out that the plan would be aligned to the state government’s targets under the 12th Malaysia Plan from 2021 to 2025.
Yii said since the launching of the Smart City Concept on April 12 this year by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, digital technologies had been extensively applied in carrying out various initiatives and programmes.
Smart city infrastructure solutions included safe city, digital signage, safe parks and smart drains.
“The ultimate aim is to bring about better living conditions, safe and healthy living environment and a vibrant economy for the benefit of the people in Miri,” he explained.
Yii said the global Covid-19 pandemic had also negatively affected the city and the Miri City Council.
“We have to live with it and make certain adjustments to the way we are doing things as well as carrying out programmes,” he added.
On the positive side, the city council, he added, was adapting to digital technology. Physical contacts had been considerably avoided and online transactions had become essential.
Miri City, located in the Northern Region of Sarawak, was once a small fishing village and a sleepy town.
Its history started in 1909 when a company known as Anglo Saxon Petroleum Company and predecessor of Shell, obtained a 75 years’ lease from Sir Charles Brooke, the second Rajah of Sarawak.
The following year, the first oil well in Miri was spudded on top of the Canada Hill and oil was first struck on December 22, 1910.
Before the discovery of the first oil well in 1910, nothing much happened in Miri which had a population of less than 500.
Like Sarawak, which has progressed much after forming Malaysia together with Malaya, Singapore and North Borneo (now known as Sabah) on September 16,1963, Miri, too, has transformed.
As Sarawak’s second largest city after Kuching, people all over the world flock to Miri for its tourist attractions which include the Niah Caves, Mulu National Park, its beautiful beaches, Lambir Hills National Park and the Grand Old Lady atop Canada Hill.
Two years after it was declared a city in May 20, 2005, Miri opened its first flyover at the Pujut Corner to the public. Another flyover at Puchong was completed the following year.
Mirians are eagerly awaiting the completion of the new RM57 million Miri City Council building which was initially scheduled to be completed in January 2021.
Construction of the new iconic nine-storey oil barrel shaped architecture began in June, 2019. Construction work has been delayed because of Covid-19. Hopefully, the new city hall will be completed later this year.
The landmark building, located at the city’s most prominent site, Marina Bay, covers an area of about 1.3 hectares in front of the Miri Central Park.
Yii is confident that Miri City will continue to thrive to become a vibrant resort city in future.
“Good infrastructure is the number one critical ingredient for cities to grow and develop,” he said.
