BINTULU: The bridge across Sungai Kenena connecting the town area and Kampung Jepak which cost RM300 million will be implemented in January 2019.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Johari Tun Openg said that the tender to build the bridge should be submitted by the end of this year.
“Jepak will be Bintulu’s administrative centre with an iconic bridge coupled with developments on the riverbanks,” he added during the Bintulu Townhall 2018 programme at Bintulu Civic Centre on Saturday.
The programme which was themed ‘Bintulu The Way Forward’, was held in conjunction with the 40th Anniversary of Bintulu Development Authority (BDA).
Abang Johari said that the rapid development in Bintulu also had a social impact on migration as well as the locals.
“We are aware that the cost of a house in Bintulu is high and theoretically the demand is high and supply is less. We are also aware that not all those who are working in the industry have such low income,” he said.
In the planning to develop the area, he stated that the area would be given to the locals to be developed into housing area.
“This has been taken into account to offset the cost of a house in Bintulu and I have reduced the premium land for 50 per cent of the resettlement area throughout the state of Sarawak and to those who have paid, we will do a refund,” he said. He added that the low price privilege will only be given to those with low income.
“If purchase is made under a low income programme, the assets will be home and land while trenches, walls and roads are borne by the government,” he said.
Such measures have been taken into account in developing Bintulu involving the low income group.
