LAWAS: The Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda) yesterday held a special briefing on the Northern Region Development Agency’s (NRDA) development plans.
The objective was to update local community leaders and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on the government’s plans to develop the NRDA area, which covers the entire Limbang Division, within the next two years.
NRDA board members, local assemblymen, NRDA sub-committee members, and over 300 local community leaders attended the briefing held at Hotel Seri Malaysia.
The attendees were very excited over the coming infrastructure projects and socio-economic programmes.
During the briefing, 90 projects were identified including roads, water supplies, the new Lawas airport and a study on Lawas seaport. Some RM1.5 billion has been allocated by the state government for these projects.
Aside from Recoda, the Resident’s and District Office (R&DO), Public Works Department (JKR), Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB), Department of Agriculture, Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB), Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) and the State Planning Unit also briefed the community leaders on development projects planned by their respective bodies for the NRDA areas.
Deputy Chief Minister and NRDA chairman Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, who officiated at the briefing, noted that NRDA has huge economic potential stemming from the spillover effects of BIMP-EAGA, developments by the Highland Development Agency (HDA), bilateral trade between Brunei and Sarawak as well as the state’s hydropower development.
“NRDA can leverage on its strategic location which neighbours Brunei, Labuan, Sabah and Indonesia,” said Tengah during his speech.
“The establishment of NRDA will expedite infrastructure development in the region and attract investments which will boost the socio-economic status of the local people.”
