Adenan urges villagers to relocate

SIBU: The extended families of residents in several villages here should relocate to enjoy a more comfortable living.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem said they should not worry about the distance as after some time when development took place, it would no longer be an issue.

“When the Rampangi area in Kuching was developed, nobody wanted to move there as many felt it was a place for the djinns. Now, many people are rushing to move there. So, was the area of Tudan in Miri,” he said.

Adenan said this when launching the Kemuyang Development Project, a new resettlement in the Kemuyang area, about 28km from here, for the extended family of Kampung Datu, Kampung Hilir, Kampung Nyabor and Kampung Bandong here yesterday.

In the past, he said, it was the norm for families wanting their siblings and children to stay close together but after some generations, their available plot became too congested and no longer cosy for living.

“When it is too crowded, it will become unhygienic, fire hazard or could lead to social problems,” he said.

The project on a 92.27ha land under Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA) will be equipped with proper infrastructure such as roads, water and electricity supply, as well as drainage.

A total of 413 lots under the first phase of the development project will be allocated to the extended families of the Kampung Datu-Kampung Hilir fire victims.

The blaze destroyed 44 houses and left 144 families homeless in 2013.

Nangka assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapaee said the first phase covered an area of 60.30ha while second phase would involve another 400 lots.

“The recipients, later on, could construct their own houses on the lots allocated to them. Alternatively, they could also engage other agencies to build (houses) for them,” he said.

State housing assistant minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the project would become a satellite town similar to Sibu Jaya in the future.

Other infrastructure components of the project will include shophouses, sports and recreational centre, mosque, community hall, health clinic, kindergarten and petrol station. - Bernama