Premier: Planning for construction of wave breakers along Kemena river estuary underway
The Sarawak government has plans to build wave breakers along the Kemena river estuary, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said this in response to Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing who earlier brought up the siltation issue in the Kemena River estuary which is a cause of concern for the local fishing community.
“Siltation has taken place in the Kemena river mouth and we are now doing research, whereby the river mouth will have to be dredged for the construction of the wave breakers.
“Please be patient because it has been included in the plan, and we now just need to find our own funds,” said the Premier at the Progressive Democratic
Party (PDP) Chinese New Year open house at the Civic Centre here yesterday.
He also called on Tiong, who is Bintulu MP and PDP president, to secure help from Putrajaya to jointly develop Kuala Kemena and build the wave breakers to enable them to be connected to Bintulu Port.
Abang Johari added that Sarawak taking over Bintulu Port Authority from the federal government would allow the state government to develop Bintulu in line with the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030.
He also highlighted the need to come up with a comprehensive design for the drainage and irrigation system here, saying this would cover all areas and resolve flash flood issues.
“The BDA’s (Bintulu Development Authority) jurisdiction will be expanded to include Sebauh and Tatau districts and with this expansion, the development plans can be implemented holistically in the two districts.
“This will enable us to develop housing facilities and these areas are also not far from the Pan Borneo Highway,” said Abang Johari, who is also BDA chairman.
He thus called on the people to work together with the government towards achieving Sarawak’s goal of becoming a high-income state by 2030.
Among those present at the event were Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi; and Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.