KUCHING: Sarawak last year attracted investments amounting to RM11.8 billion, the second highest in Malaysia after Johor, Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg pointed out during the launching of 20th Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers’ Association (SHEDA) Property Expo at Borneo Convention Cente Kuching (BCCK), here yesterday.
He said the active participation of SHEDA is important to jointly improve housing development for the people of Sarawak.
“However, even as Sarawak sets her sights on becoming a high-income nation, it is important for our grassroots to feel and see that work is also been done quite literally, closer to home,” Johari said in his text speech which was read by Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian who represented him at the event.
“We hope that with closer collaboration will strengthen the mature partnership shared as we collectively and pro actively seek to address housing policies, suitability and accessibility for all income groups and we trust that the combined resources of both the public and private sectors will enlarge our collective vision for the development of Sarawak,” the Chief Minister said.
He said the government is committed to addressing concerns Sarawakians have over the lack of infrastructure, the need to open up more land for various commercial activities and the impact of rural-urban migration is having on development plans and housing prices throughout Sarawak.
“These matters, although current and ongoing, are not new and the State Government has dedicated time, finances and resources to develop well-reasoned approaches that have taken into consideration complex sub-issues that are equally important,” he stressed.
Johari said this year, State government has many development programmes which include the RM2.5 billion acquisition of the Bakun Hydroelectric Power Dam from the Federal Government, the RM1 billion investments to prepare trunk information technology and communication infrastructure for Sarawak to harness its potential in digital economy, the establishment of Sarawak-owned Development Bank of Sarawak (DBOS), the state’s exploration into downstream activities related to the oil and gas industry; and a plan to set up a Light Rail Transport (LRT) system connecting Kuching, Samarahan and Serian.
“State government implements all these projects, infrastructures, utilities and amenities to uplift the standards of living for Sarawakians,” he added.
He also said that whilst these areas may not have the high population concentration that is linked to housing shortage, over the next few decades, these areas may very well be the next frontier to the property industry.
“It is not easy to formulate a statewide, holistic housing model that is sturdy enough to provide for adequate, affordable and quality housing, yet fluid enough to adapt to not only the changing needs and lifestyles of individuals, but also the different needs required by the growing urban and rural population,” Johari said.
