KUCHING: Rustic Spaoh town will be more vibrant soon with the implementation of a number of major development or upgrading projects.
Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said the realignment of the coastal highway now passing through the town would mean greater traffic volume and stopovers in the town.
“This project, costing RM116 million, will begin from Saka Betong to Spaoh,” he said when officiating at the closing of a ‘Jalinan Mesra GPS Bersama Masyarakat Spaoh’ gathering in Spaoh on Sunday (Sept 6).
“As such, we will need more shops, especially eateries, to cater to the needs of travellers,” he said.
Another big development, Uggah said, was the implementation of the RM108 million Bebuling STOLport which would also bring in visitors and businessmen to the town.
He added the government was now in the process of implementing the new market costing RM5 million, a RM14 million new sport complex, a RM30 million new iconic bridge, a RM5 million new sub district office and others.
He added that plan was also afoot to upgrade the Spaoh Health Clinic.
“A Giat Mara Centre will be brought over here too to train the people in income generating activities,” added Uggah.
However, he said Spaoh’s greatest potential was in the agriculture sector, adding that the town was part of the Bukit Sadok Agropolitan area which the state was preparing to implement.
“While we have these potentials, we have a big problem with only the ageing population and some businessmen staying put.
“I hope the youth can come back to take up modern farming which can be a very lucrative business,” said Uggah who is also the Minister of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development.
The GPS government, he said, had many plans and programmes for the youth.
“They can select those that appeal most to them in the Agriculture Department’s AgriCOP or agriculture community outreach programme which will be held in several longhouses here this month,” he said.
Earlier on, Uggah also attended a function organised by the Spaoh Top Spinning Sport Association (Kelab Sukan Gasing Spaoh).
