KUCHING: A new Centre of Technical Excellence (CENTEX) will be established in Dalat.
Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development, Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said that the institution was recently confirmed in a state cabinet meeting held last Thursday.
Speaking at the Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri E-Dok held at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), Fatimah said the project was first agreed to by the Chief Minister, Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg during an earth breaking ceremony of the Melanau Heritage Gallery.
“During the recent cabinet meeting, during his opening remarks, the Head of State, His Excellency, Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud approved the establishment of Dalat’s CENTEX.
“Hence, at the same meeting, Johari approved that CENTEX would be established in Dalat.
“This will definitely change the landscape and will develop Dalat. CENTEX had also developed Lundu, Samarahan and Jalan Sultan Tengah,” she said.
Fatimah also disclosed the five major projects that would be implemented in Dalat with the Rural Transformation Project (RTP) funds and the 11th Malaysia Plan funds this year.
“First is the Melanau Heritage Gallery, a two-storey building that will house many of the historical items, traditions and cultures of the Melanaus.
“The gallery will be located on the first floor while the second floor will house offices of Lembaga Amanah Kebajikan Melayu Oya (LAKMO), the Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) and also the Muslim Welfare Organisation Malaysia (PERKIM).
“The second and third major projects are the Oya Saturday Agriculture Market and the Dalat Waterfront which is already in its second phase. Another project is the Oya Walk/Oya Square,” said Fatimah.
The final project is to build the one-and-a-half-storey Dalat Welfare Complex that will consist of four main sections, namely, the Dalat District Welfare Department, Oya Community-based Rehabilitation Centre (PDK), a kindergarten for the disabled and also an activity centre for senior citizens.
At the Hari Raya gathering, Fatimah also announced the names of two individuals who were contributing to the people of Dalat as part as their companies’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
“The General Manager of TM Tec Academy (M) Sdn Bhd, Richard Song has donated a new dialysis machine for the Dalat Hospital. The hospital now has a total of five dialysis machines.
“Also, the Manager of GC Coffee House, Angela Chia has donated some money for the third time to buy bicycles for students who come from poor families.
“These bicycles do wonders to these families. Not only do they assist the children to get to their schools but sometimes ,they also use them to sell local desserts around the town,” said Fatimah.
Guests at the Hari Raya gathering were mostly residents from Oya, Dalat and Kut.
Also present was Fatimah’s husband and Board Member of DBP, Datu Dr Adi Badiozaman Tuah.
