LAWAS: The Trusan bazaar here will be redeveloped with new facilities to turn it into a popular transit town once the Northern Coastal Highway project is completed.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said the current bazaar which was built after fire razed the shop houses in 1970 was only meant to be temporary structures.
“The condition of the shop houses in Pekan Trusan is quite bad because of how old it is and in fact these were meant to be temporary after the fire incident in the 1970s.
“However, what was supposed to be temporary still remains until today. With the development of the Northern Coastal Highway project which passes through Pekan Trusan, we are planning to come up with a new plan for redevelopment of the bazaar with new facilities.
“I am confident that with the highway and its location being near the border, Trusan can be a popular transit town,” he said.
He was speaking at the launch of Sarawak Linking Urban Rural and Nation-Sarawak Rural Broadband Network (Saluran-MySRBN) initiative at Kampung Tengah in Trusan on Sunday (Oct 31).
Awang Tengah who is also Minister of International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development said the area would be developed as a residential area.
“This is why we have built a new mosque here, but we are hoping that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg will channel additional fund to assist in its completion,” he said.
The Bukit Sari assemblyman also disclosed about plans to establish a mini service centre in Long Tuan which will serve the upper part of the Batang Trusan.
Speaking on the importance of mastering information technology (IT) and digital economy, Awang Tengah commended the Chief Minister’s foresight in embracing the initiative.
He pointed out that the Covid-19 pandemic had illustrated how crucial IT and digital economy were in ensuring that businesses as well as the people’s lives could continue.
“It is evident that the people are fully aware of the importance of embracing this and going for the digital platform.
“Without our Chief Minister’s commitment and passion, we may have lost our direction during the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
He also thanked the chief minister for providing allocation to improve the telecommunication infrastructures and services especially in the interior areas.
“This will facilitate the people in adapting to the development of industries which revolve around technology and connectivity,” he said.
