State’s tourism ministry have received an overall allocation of RM52 million for the 15 Key Result Areas (KRAs) projects which will be completed in 2020.
The allocation was given by the State government through the Socio-Economic Transformation Programme, starting the beginning of last year.
According to its minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, a total of RM14.49 million was spent in 2017 while in 2018, RM9.16 million has been spent up to October 2018 which is equivalent to 45 per cent of the total allocated budget.
He said the current ongoing physical project worth noting are the upgrading of Tourism Infrastructure and Facilities at Wind Cave, Fairy Cave, Kuching Waterfront areas and Kuching Heritage Trail, upgrading work to the Jetty near Santubong bridge, transforming Brooke Dockyard into a Maritime Museum and the construction of the Walkway in front of the new DUN building to connect to the pedestrian bridge.
“Feasibility studies are also being conducted under the KRAs project which include the conversion of the Old DUN building into a Performing Arts Centre, Study on tranforming the Old Miri Resident’s Office into a Cultural and Heritage Centre, and Study on Developing Gold Mine Museum and Park in Bau,” said Karim in his winding up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN), yesterday.
Karim also noted that under the 11th Malaysia Plan, his ministry also implemented other development projects.
He said among them are the Dalat Phase 2 Waterfront Project, the walkway leading from Kampong Boyan to Fort Margherita in Kuching, upgrading of North Yu Seng Road or popularly known as the Wireless Walk and the development of tourism facilities at Bakam Point, whereby all these are under the State’s fund.
“The historic Brooke Dockyard will be redeveloped into a Maritime Museum (RM45 million) together with the building of a replica of The Royalist Schooner (RM7.5 million) in partnership with Brooke Heritage Trust,” he said.
He also pointed out that two federal funded projects are also being implemented by his ministry under the First Rolling plan of the 11th Malaysia Plan by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia.
“This project is being overseen by my ministry including the development of Baruk at Kampung Gumbang Bau, which was completed in October 2018 while the Jejak Warisan (Heritage Trail) at Waterfront is still ongoing,” said Karim, adding, the development of Baram Waterfront amounting to RM23 million will be taken over by the State under the Chief Minister Walkabout Projects which will be implemented by the Marudi District Council.
