SIBU: Kapit will be the ‘new Bergen’ as the Sarawak government has planned to develop the area under a new masterplan.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said he has a masterplan to develop Kapit and will hold further discussion with leaders in Kapit on the proposed plan.
“Kapit has many mountains and we don’t simply ‘gohed’ (rush it). So, I see that, looking at the future of Kapit, we can take Bergen, which is the second largest city in Norway as an example
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“Bergen is a very small yet beautiful city, similar to Kapit. Beautiful, a nice place for a honeymoon.
“Therefore, I have requested a consultant to look into Kapit,” he said during the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu’s (PBB) Special Sibu Convention at Kingwood Hotel here on Sunday (Nov 5).
Abang Johari, who is also PBB president said apart from having plans to develop Kapit, the Sarawak government is also committed to redevelop Sibu.
“We redevelop Sibu as it is prone to floods. So, we take Amsterdam in Holland as an example. Amsterdam lies below sea level and they have good water management.
“So, I see that if Sibu is below sea level, and if Amsterdam can do it, Sibu can do it too,” he said.
However, he added the redevelopment plans will take up to 15 years to complete as it is a long-term plan.
“This may be a dream. But if there is no dream, things will not be initiated. So, we must have a dream.
“And I will also look for more funding to redevelop Sibu so that the ‘area comes to life’,” he said.
He also said that areas such as Belawai in Tanjung Manis, which is blessed with beautiful beaches, will also continue to be developed as well.
“Who does not know Belawai? It means ‘Belawai-ii’, which is just like Hawaii in the United States. We continue to develop.
“So, we have Kapit, which is the new Bergen; Sibu, the new Amsterdam; and ‘Belawai-ii’, and we will bring in more tourists using our own airline company, our own aircraft,” he said.
Abang Johari said Sarawak can bring in more tourists once the acquisition of MASwings is completed.
