Proposed Sibu Jaya town hall gets minister’s support
SIBU: Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian assures Sibu Rural District Council ( SRDC) of his support for its proposed town hall project in Sibu Jaya.
He believes that the time has come for the council to have its own administrative building and he is all go for the proposal.
“This ( proposed town hall) would be much better – rather than the present Level 17 and 18 of Wisma Sanyan, which is under the Sibu Municipal Council.
“You ( SRDC) must be in your own area, and there is no other appropriate place than in Sibu Jaya.
“We need a new iconic SRDC building, since Sibu Jaya contributes to one- third of the rateable properties in Sibu with the up- and- coming Pan Borneo Highway just a step away. It will be a strategic and appropriate location for the new SRDC building,” he spoke at the closing of Sibu Jaya Festival 2017 here on Sunday night.
On the three- day festival hosted by SRDC, Dr Sim observed that the event brought everyone from the local community – the youths, entrepreneurs and members of non-governmental organisations ( NGOs) – together.
Meanwhile SRDC chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai, who also spoke at the function, said the council could function more efficiently once it had its own administrative centre in Sibu Jaya.
“The present premise (in Wisma Sanyan) is not strategically positioned to serve the public – the majority of whom are residing in suburban and rural areas,” he said.
On Sibu Jaya Festival, Sempurai said it helped to promote Sibu Jaya not only as a modern and vibrant township, but also a potential key transportation hub upon the completion of the Pan Borneo Highway project.
“With the nearby Sibu Airport, Sibu Jaya and the rapidly developing areas surrounding it, SRDC needs to be more proactive in its planning so that it could run in tandem with the fast development seen in Sibu Jaya.”
The festival featured 17 events throughout the three days, headlined by the Sibu Jaya Mountain Bike Challenge 2017 on Sunday.
Other events were the ‘ Strongman Challenge’, ‘ Miss Sibu Jaya beauty pageant, ‘Battle of the Bands’, the ‘ Hash Run’, tug- of-war, ‘Explorace’, ‘Mr Body Smart’, an eating competition, a ‘ Big Bike Show’ and an ‘Auto Show’, ‘ Three-A- Side Basketball Challenge’, a mass Zumba session, ‘ Kids’ Fashion Show’, a f lower arrangement contest, an English reading challenge, telematch, a kite- f lying show, and a ‘ Fancy /Superheroes and Superwomen Dress- Up’ competition.
Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin officiated at the opening ceremony last Friday.
This (proposed town hall) would be much better – rather than the present Level 17 and 18 of Wisma Sanyan, which is under the Sibu Municipal Council. Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, Local Government and Housing Minister