‘90 programmes, projects slated for NRDA’
LAWAS: Northern Region Development Agency ( NRDA) covering Limbang and Lawas will roll out 90 programmes and projects worth RM1.5 billion in 2019-2021 as catalyst to unlock the social- economic potential of northern Sarawak.
Infrastructure and public amenities projects costing RM1.23 billion would spearhead this ambitious development agenda, which would be complemented by development of agriculture, livestock and fisheries ( RM8.36 million), industries and SMEs development ( RM18 million), tourism, social, youth and culture development ( RM81.7 million) and technical training and education ( RM160 million), said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, who is chairman of NRDA.
Awang Tengah, who is also Second Minister of Urban Planning and Natural Resources and Minister of Industrial and Entrepreneurs Development, was speaking at a special briefing on NRDA to about 350 community leaders, representatives of associations and NGOs and other stakeholders from Limbang and Lawas at Hotel Seri Malaysia on Wednesday.
He informed that the objective of NRDA as a component of
SCORE initially covered only about 70,000 square kilometres and our Chief Minister decided to expand it to Urda (Upper Rajang Development Agency), HDA (Highland Development Agency) and NRDA to bring the total area to over 100,000 square km to provide greater focus on planning and development of the respective regions with their own peculiarities and development potential.
Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) is to complement the development of areas under Highland Development Agency (HDA) which cannot be developed in isolation.
“SCORE initially covered only about 70,000 square kilometres and our Chief Minister decided to expand it to Urda ( Upper Rajang Development Agency), HDA ( Highland Development Agency) and NRDA to bring the total area to over 100,000 square km to provide greater focus on planning and development of the respective regions with their own peculiarities and development potential,” he said.
He said SCORE had been successful and is among the top development corridors in the country, attracting energy intensive industries from abroad and continues to be an investment magnet for the state.
Awang Tengah also said Regional Corridor Development Authority ( Recoda) which oversees the three development agencies would be beefed up in the aspect of organisation structure to oversee the progress of programmes and projects in the areas under the three agencies.
He said the tender committee for NRDA had been established and according Recoda CEO Datu Ismawi Ismuwi, tenders are expected to be called by the first quarter of next year.
All the three development agencies under Recoda have been allocated RM1.5 billion each to be spent within two years, which Awang Tengah said is over and above the normal budget under the 11th Malaysia Plan.
Also attending the briefing were Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum Agong and Batu Danau assemblyman Paulus Palu Gumbang, who are NRDA committees members
Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Deputy Chief Minister