KOTA SAMARAHAN: Allocations for the development of Samarahan Division will continue to be provided as long as the mandate of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government is renewed by the people.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state government had allocated RM1.5 billion to the Integrated Regional Samarahan Development Agency (IRSDA) for the division’s development which he expected would be completed by 2023.
“Usually, we would allocate RM1.5 billion for a period of three years. After that, starting from 2023, we will have other projects and we will provide additional allocation if GPS is still the ruling government,” he said.
He said this when officiating at Samarahan Division’s ‘Leader with the People’ session at Kota Samarahan Civic Centre yesterday after attending the State Development Coordination Committee meeting for the division.
He revealed that so far, projects costing about RM1.4 billion under IRSDA had been approved out of the agency’s total allocation of RM1.5 billion.
“At this time, there are 519 projects being implemented under IRSDA,” he pointed out.
He said the project which cost the most was the construction of the bund from Samarahan to Sebuyau at a cost of RM840 million.
He said the other projects were related to infrastructure development with an allocation of RM452 million, RM103 million for agricultural development, and RM100 million for tourism development in Samarahan.
“For Samarahan, the Projek Rakyat which we have approved amounted to RM221 million,” said Abang Johari, adding that this involved 30 projects such as small roads and community halls.
“Aside from these, I am glad that road projects which cost a total of RM337 million are being implemented smoothly by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development,” he said adding that his would transform road connectivity in the Samarahan Division.
At the same time, the state government was also upgrading the five roundabouts in Samarahan by installing smart traffic lights.
Also present were Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; State Secretary Datuk Amar Jaul Samion; Assistant Minister of Infrastructure and Ports Development Datuk Julaihi Narawi; Assistant Minister of International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais; Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Snowdan Lawan; Muara Tuang assemblyman Datuk Idris Buang; Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip; Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali and Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) chairman Datuk Peter Minos.
