KUCHING: The state government has approved a new building for the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) at a cost of between RM70 million and RM100 million.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg hoped that this new building would be a symbol of Sibu’s progress towards a modern era.
“I hope that with this injection of funds for your building, it will really become a symbol for you to move forward towards the year 2030,” he said when officiating at SMC’s 40th anniversary celebration via Zoom on Tuesday (Nov 2).
Noting SMC’s objective of turning Sibu into a city by 2031, he said hard work and planning would be required over the next few years in order to achieve this status.
“We have a vision for Sibu and SMC also has a vision. The state government will support your vision to transform Sibu as a city by 2031 by giving you whatever assistance you need.”
He also supported the idea of transforming Sibu into a smart city, emphasising that the digital infrastructure in Sibu would have to be upgraded.
“So I have instructed the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) to work with SMC to make sure that you have fast internet connectivity.
“In addition, the infrastructure in Sibu has to be upgraded. Then you can become a smart city and all the activities in Sibu will be connected with your main command centre in SMC.”
Abang Johari believed that these transformations along with other developments should be implemented within the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 period which spans the next decade up until 2030.
“Hopefully, because you already have universities in Sibu, by 2031 you would have all the prerequisites for Sibu to become a city.”
He congratulated SMC for doing an effective and excellent job in serving the people of Sibu and also in successfully transforming Sibu over the last 40 years.
“Let us work together for the sake of Sibu and for the sake of Sarawak. As Adenan (the late former Chief Minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem) said, we are the only people that can look after Sarawak.”
Also in attendance were Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian; Assistant Ministers of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil and Dr Annuar Rapaee; SMC chairman Clarence Ting; and other representatives.
