Southern Region Development Agency
A proposal to establish the Southern Region Development Agency (SRDA) has been forwarded to the state government.
It was proposed by Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu and Dr Hazland Abang Hipni.
Abdul Rahman said the development agency would have control over three constituencies — Tanjung Datu, Pantai Damai, and Demak Laut.
“It will cover the areas from Teluk Melano to Sampadi, Rambungan, Telaga Air, Kampung Santubong, Kampung Buntal, Kampung Bako, Muara Tebas and Tanjung Embang among others,” he said in a press conference yesterday.
Abdul Rahman, who is also Assistant Minister of Utilities (Water Supply), explained that the areas were previously announced by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg as the southern tourism belt.
“The three of us have discussed (this) and decided to propose the formation of the development agency.”
Abdul Rahman said that SRDA in its initial stage would focus on the tourism industry.
He added the development of tourism infrastructure can be divided into different categories according to the main attractions in the constituencies, such as ecotourism, agrotourism, marine tourism, health tourism, and education tourism.
“I think it’s high time for the state government to focus on these areas especially the tourism facilities and infrastructure.
“This can also help improve the socio-economic development of the local communities,” he added.
He also pointed out that the establishment of SRDA would complete the coverage of the whole state with various development agencies.
“The development agency would later be expanded inwards to cover other districts in Kuching which are also areas of tourism,” he said.
