THERE is a dire need for a master plan to redevelop several hundred hectares of peat swamp land between Amoy Road and Brooke Drive in Sibu, just a stone’s throw from the modern business district of Sibu town.
Datuk Tiong Thai King (PSB-Dudong) said the area was an eyesore as well as a hotbed for mosquitoes and snakes.
“It is very unhygienic as a residential environment. In addition, it is always flooded after heavy rain and most houses are in a dilapidated condition now as they were built in the 1950’s,” he said when debating on the Supply (2021) Bill, 2020 at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today.
He urged for the redevelopment of this area to be regarded as a top priority, hoping that the state government would allocate RM1 billion under the 2022 State Budget to realise such plans.
“The redevelopment would not only benefit the local residents, but also the town as a whole. When completed, this will certainly change the landscape of the town and give Sibu a facelift.”
He added that redevelopment efforts could also boost the economy in Sibu and generate more job opportunities.
On another matter, Tiong commended the state government’s initiative to set up a safe haven for the homeless, but expressed his disagreement with the decision to utilise the Sibu Malaysian Government Service Welfare and Sports Council (Maksak) building in Jalan Sanyan as the site for the pilot project.
“This building is a heritage building, located strategically at the centre of Sibu town. In view of the Sarawak Heritage Bill 2019, we should safeguard, preserve, and conserve our heritage sites.”
He said the historical building was an invaluable asset as a unique feature which could be promoted as a tourism product to generate income.
As an alternative, he suggested that the safe haven for the homeless could be established at the Police Field Force Lanang Camp, where there are many vacant buildings which could be renovated as a better choice for the project.
“Another opportunity is to construct a new building in Sibu Jaya,” he said.
