THERE is no plan to plan to establish a new township across from Saratok town since the proposed developments within the Saratok Structure Plan have not been fully implemented, said Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration, and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh.
“However, with the construction of the bridge crossing the Sungai Krian and the upgrade of the Bajau/Kupang Road, the area across from Saratok town is seen as having potential to be planned as a modern agricultural activity zone in line with the existing land use.
“This is to ensure that the proposed development can benefit the local community,” he said in reply to Mohamad Duri (GPS-Kalaka) during question-and-answer time today.
Earlier, Mohamad had asked if the ministry has any plans to establish a new township, considering the completion of the Sungai Krian bridge and the upgrading of the Bajau/Kupang road, which could bring socio-economic benefits to the residents of longhouses and villages across from Saratok town.
On the main proposed land use components in the existing Saratok Structure Plan, Len Talif said they included the waterfront redevelopment, mixed development, housing, commercial, government reserve, industrial, recreation and open spaces, and proposed road alignments.
In reply to a supplementary question on what the main criteria considered by the government in planning a new town in a particular area was, Len Talif said there are several criteria to be considered.
“This includes the development and population intensity and density in the existing areas, comprehensive road network, continuity of infrastructure and utility networks, socio-economic activities of the local population, and balancing development in a given area,” he said.
