BALAI RINGIN: The elevation of Balai Ringin into a sub-district will facilitate the administration of the three zones under it, said its assemblyman Datuk Snowdan Lawan.
He explained that he had divided his constituency into three administrative zones, with Zone A involving Serian, Zone B (Simunjan), and Zone C (Sri Aman).
He said Zone A was identified as involving the education, youth and sports sectors as the area housed some 20 schools — 19 primary schools and one secondary school — with 2,000 students.
He said Zone B, on the other hand, involved the tourism and handicraft sectors.
“At the Jalan Simunjan area, there is a lake and I propose this as an area for ecotourism activities. We have submitted this to the Integrated Regional Samarahan Development Agency (Irsda), for the construction of ecotourism infrastructure there so tourists can visit and this will enhance the local economy,” he said.
He also said there were a number of waterfalls in the area which could be elevated as ecotourism sites.
He said this at an earth-breaking ceremony for the Balai Ringin Mini Stadium here yesterday, which was officiated at by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said he had also approved a RM350,000 allocation under his Rural Transformation Project (RTP) fund to build a handicraft centre in this zone.
“This centre can be used for locals to sell their handicrafts,” he said, adding that these products could also be exported.
Snowdan, who is also Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports, said Zone C was identified as involving the sectors of agriculture, plantations and livestock.
“This is because in the Lachau/Pantu area, there is a collection, processing, and packaging centre (CPPC) which has been approved. There, we can collect products of agriculture, plantations and livestock to be brought for export,” he said.
He said this zone also housed a vast paddy field, as well as other produce such as palm oil, rambutan and pepper.
He added that livestock such as chickens, ducks and goats were also reared.
