KUCHING: The Sarawak government wants to open up more low-lying areas for development.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said that experts have already been tasked to look into how such areas in the state could be further developed.
“This is our approach where we want to open new areas including low-lying and water-logged areas.
“We have asked experts on how we can develop these areas. For example, we can dredge the area.
“Then, a canal could be developed to help control the water level, and hence the area will not be hit by flood. This (development) will be done in the Samariang area,” he said in a press conference after handing over land titles, land compensations and house keys to households under the first phase of relocation to Darul Hana Resettlement Scheme here on Saturday (Aug 27).
The first phase of relocation involved 337 heads of household from Kampung Semarang, Kampung Panglima Seman Lama and Lot Tambahan.
Abang Johari said that similar housing development has been done in Kemuyang, Sibu where construction of several more blocks are still ongoing as well as building of mosque and surau.
“At the Kemuyang area, it will be connected by roads up to Kampung Nangka whereby village expansion projects from Kampung Nangka right up to Kemuyang will also be done,” he said.
He added new housing projects would also be developed in Kabong, Jepak including the coastal areas such as Sebuyau new township and Kampung Tambirat.
“What the state government is doing is that we will fill the new areas and we will supply utilities including roads and drainage. All the costs will be borne by the Sarawak government.
“These costs will not be absorbed by the buyers, all they need to do is to just buy the houses,” he said.
He added the infrastructure cost was roughly about RM150,000 per lot and the cost of the house is RM100,000, so the overall cost is RM250,000.
“This means that they have an asset valued at RM250,000, but they only have to pay RM100,000 because the state government has covered the cost of infrastructure (RM150,000),” he pointed out.
Apart from that, he said those under the B40 and M40 group who wish to purchase houses could also apply for the Housing Deposit Assistance Scheme which provides cash assistance up to RM10,000.
“People asked, is this the policy of the state government? I said this is how we want to help the B40 and rural communities to have high value assets,” he said.
Later, Abang Johari also officiated at the Surau Darul Hijrah for Block 1A of the Darul Hana Resettlement Scheme.
The RM4.28 million surau which could accommodate up to 460 worshippers was built to enable the villagers to have access to religious activities and prayers.
