Darul Hana villagers in ‘win-win’ situation
KUCHING: A total of 2,526 house owners from 12 Malay villages across the Sarawak River who will be resettled at the housing projects under the Darul Hana Development Programme in the next 15 years will be compensated with houses of equal value as their present properties, revealed Pantai Damai assemblyman Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi.
He described the deal between the villages and the government as the ‘best deal’ for both parties as they ( house owners) will in return have the opportunity to have shares in various properties in future development on their former land under the Darul Hana Incorporation.
The idea of developing Darul Hana with a land size of 722 acres into an ultra-modern area but at the same time retaining the Malay traditional architecture was mooted by then Chief Minister Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud way back on April 15, 2011.
“They will be moving to new houses, i.e. landed properties, similar to what they have now in terms of costing. So it’s going to be a win-win situation between the villages and the government. So I can say that this is the best deal for both parties,” Dr Abdul Rahman told The Borneo Post at his office here yesterday.
Additionally, the extended families of the house owners are also eligible to buy three-bedroom apartments in Darul Hana in future.
Currently there are some 4,278 families residing in the 12 villages with a combined population of about 16,655 people. The villages are: Kampung Boyan, Kampung Gersik, Kampung Surabaya Ulu, Kampung Surabaya Hilir, Kampung Panglima Seman Ulu, Kampung Panglima Seman Lama, Kampung Semarang, Kampung Pulo Ulu, Kampung Pulo Hilir, Kampung Bintawa Ulu, Kampung Bintawa Tengah and Kampung Bintawa Hilir.
Dr Abdul Rahman also revealed that the landed properties to be built for the villagers will range from single, double storey and detached houses. Single and double storey units include terraced, semi- detached and detached houses.
“Under Phase 1 Block A and Block 2A, 504 units of houses will be built for the villagers from three villages; namely Kampung Panglima Seman Lama, Kampung Semarang and Kampung Pulo Ulu. Hopefully, they will be resettled to the new houses by early 2020.
“And as for the rest of the villages, they will move to their new houses gradually and in phases. And hopefully by 2030, when the state attains developed state status, all of them will be resettled at their new houses,” he said.
Dr Abdul Rahman, who is also the Assistant Minster of Rural
They will be moving to new houses, i.e. landed properties, similar to what they have now in terms of costing. So it’s going to be a win-win situation between the villages and the government. So I can say that this is the best deal for both parties. Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Pantai Damai assemblyman
Electricity, pointed out that the Darul Hana Development Programme was a long term plan to address the current problems faced by residents of the 12 villages.
“Currently, it’s impossible to improve basic utilities, drainage, roads and provide recreational parks and football fields, as these villages are just too congested. So, that’s the reason that prompted the government to come up with the Darul Hana Development Programme to address the present housing problems so that their children will have better future,” he said, adding that the Darul Hana housing model would be extended to Sibu and Miri in future.
Meanwhile, Dr Abdul Rahman, who is also the advisor of the Darul Hana Development Programme, disclosed that the government will build four units of show houses under the programme which are expected to be completed by end of March.
The Darul Hana project is spearheaded by the Land Custody and Development Authority ( LCDA), with the Sarawak Housing Corporation (HDC) as the developer and Daya Builders Sdn Bhd as the main contractor.