KUCHING: The first phase of the long-awaited relocation of 13 Malay villages at Seberang Hilir to the Darul Hana housing project will begin soon.
Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs and Kuching North City Commission) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi said the first two blocks, consisting a total of 564 houses, was almost ready for the first phase relocation.
Block 1A, located behind Petronas Station Ulu Bintawa, comprises 486 units while Block 2A, located across the main road next to the Darul Hana Mosque, comprises 78 units.
Block 2A is 100 per cent completed while Block 1A is at 95.67 per cent completion, and expected to be fully completed in the next three to four months.
“We will have the first batch of 564 families from three villages－Kampung Panglima Seman Lama, Kampung Semarang and Kampung Pulo — move into the new settlement.
“The relocation cost will be borne by the state government and the whole process will take about three to six months, probably starting end of this year or early next year.
“However, for Block 1A, there are about 60 houses that will undergo alteration in terms of design and thus, the completion date will be delayed to the third or fourth quarter of next year.”
Dr Abdul Rahman was speaking to the press after visiting Block 1A and Block 2A of the project in Petra Jaya here on Monday (Sept 28).
The Pantai Damai assemblyman added that those relocating would be compensated based on the existing real estate value.
The project comes with facilities such as mosque, football field, recreational park as well as an underpass to connect the blocks without having to use the main highway.
It is modelled on the smart township concept, first mooted by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The project was initiated in May 2011, mooted by Head of State, Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who was the chief minister at the time.
It involves relocating 2,640 households from 13 Malay villages — Kampung Boyan, Kampung Gersik, Kampung Sourabaya Ulu, Kampung Sourabaya Hilir, Kampung Semarang, Kampung Pulo Ulu, Kampung Pulo Hilir, Kampung Bintawa Ulu, Kampung Bintawa Hilir, Kampung Bintawa Tengah, Kampung Bintawa Batu, Kampung Panglima Seman Ulu and Kampung Panglima Seman Hilir.
Construction for the project, costing over RM200 million, only started in 2017 due to the process of purchasing and acquiring the land as well as preparation of infrastructure.
It is spearheaded by the Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA) with Housing Development Corporation (HDC) as the developer and Daya Builders Sdn Bhd as the main contractor.
The value of each house varies from RM98,000 up to RM310,000, depending on type.
Also present were HDC chief executive officer Mohd Asman Ahmad, LCDA Real Estate Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Nor-E-Fadzwie Salleh, and special administrative officer for the project, Muhd Yakup Kari.
The nearly completed Darul Hana houses. 
The nearly completed Darul Hana houses.
