Area committee aims to enhance ties between people, govt
KUCHING: The setting up of Sekama, Lumba Kuda, Ellis and Ang Cheng Ho Areas Committee is aimed at bridging the gap between residents and local authorities, slated for bringing in meaningful changes and development to these areas.
According to committee chairman Councillor Jong Yean Pin, this committee could also help address current social issues by working closely with the relevant stakeholders – for example, disseminating information about rabies and dengue to the local community.
“Together we shall make Kuching city, especially the Padungan area, a peaceful, vibrant and thriving cosmopolitan in years to come,” he said during the installation ceremony of Sekama, Lumba Kuda, Ellis and Ang Cheng Ho Areas Committee at Padungan Community Hall along Jalan Padungan here yesterday.
It is said that the committee was set up by Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Kuching branch and several Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Padungan (PBB) branches here.
Moreover, Jong described the areas at Jalan Sekama, Jalan Lumba Kuda, Jalan Ellis and Jalan Ang Cheng Ho collectively as ‘a mixed zone, with residents who are predominantly Chinese and Malays’.
Additionally, he viewed the Malay ‘kampung’ (village) at Jalan Lumba Kuda as exhibiting tremendous tourism potential due to the presence of many Malay heritage houses.
“With their consent, we could propose to the (relevant) authorities to revamp the area as a local attraction, enabling Padungan (area) to move up the value chain,” said Jong.
Meanwhile, Batang Lupar MP Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim, who is also PBB Padungan chairperson and co-advisor to the committee, lamented about ‘too much politicking on social issues’, urging the people to move on and start contributing positively to society.
“Through the area committee, we feel that the interest of the people would be better taken care of,” she said.
Meanwhile, SUPP Kuching chairperson and co-advisor to the committee Datuk Lily Yong said the conception of the committee stemmed from the need to manage these areas more properly and efficiently.
Yong believed that the parliamentary area of Bandar Kuching and the state constituency of Padungan had not been properly managed by the respective elected representatives, affecting the livelihood of nearby communities and businesses.
Recently, Kuching South Mayor Datuk James Chan welcomed the formation of the committee, seeing it as enabling two-way communications between the people and the Sarawak government to look into the issues faced by the people.
On a separate note, Rohani also said the construction of the RM1billion Batang Lupar bridge, with a 5km stretch, should be announced some time this year.