BAU: Bau is expected to grow aggressively in the next five to ten years with facilities and infrastructures planned for the people.
Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Henry Harry Jinep told in a press conference in his office here today that there are six matters that the people of Bau should be updated on after the State Legislative Assembly sitting recently.
“The first matter pertains to the “Bidayuh Belt” which stretches from Lundu to Serian (southern region) a strategic agricultural growth hinterland within the greater Kuching development area where it requires regional development agency to look into the necessary development.
“Native Land Development Assistant Minister Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn said that the task was given to the Sarawak Land Development Board as the agency to spearhead the agricultural and tourism activities of the belt and to undertake aggressive agricultural actions,” he said.
Henry also noted that Bau did request for a collection centre and an Agropark to which the response was that the government needs to undergo a proper and extensive study and to find if there is suitable land for the projects and whether they are relevant if there is no consistent supply of local produces.
Apart from that, an estimated RM43 million is in the pipeline for the acquisition of land between Lundu and Bau and the construction of a one-kilometre road.
Henry also advised Lundu District Council to discuss with the ministry concerned as the government is serious in the project’s implementation.
He added that the Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah had informed in his ministerial winding-up speech at the DUN regarding the Bau Gold Mine Museum Park which is still being studied is expected to be included in the 12th Malaysia Plan in 2021.
In addition to the museum, he noted that the first phase of the RM8-million Bau Sports Arena had been approved.
“The sixth matter is regarding the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex in Serikin where the Sarawak government has applied to the federal government and requested funding as the facility is under federal’s power,” he said.
Henry also mentioned that these are matters that were tabled by him during recent DUN sitting.
Hence, he considered the government’s responses to be positive and optimistic that Bau will continue to grow in the next three to five years.
He also revealed that in the past three years as Tasik Biru assemblyman a few projects in his constituency have been carried out successfully.
One of the popular issues in his constituency is water supply where nine contracts had already been assigned to the Rural Water Supply Department to upgrade the water grid and pipes where clean water supply will be supplied to the population of 64,000 in Bau by the end of 2020.
Furthermore, he noted that the ongoing water supply project costing RM140 million when completed will be able to supply 40 million litres per day (MLD) of clean water supply to the people of Bau.
Bau district officer Anielia Siam said that the first package of the water supply project has started with the installation of the main pipes.
“If this project is not carried out, Lundu will be taking our water supply as the installation of pipes passes through the state and not done by regions because the water is from Batu Kitang which flows to Bau then to Lundu,” she said.
