Ministry’s move to build 50 public recreational parks nationwide each year commended

KUCHING: Deputy Sarawak Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian lauds the federal Housing and Local Government Ministry’s move to build at least 50 public recreational parks nationwide each year.

The Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government Sarawak, however, says what matters most is the full utilisation of these facilities.

“We can have a few public recreational parks in our communities, this is not a problem, but we should learn how to make good use of these parks,” he said when met by reporters after launching the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Chinese New Year programme yesterday.

Federal Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, who announced this on Feb 13, had said that his ministry would allocate about RM500,000 for each park.

In this respect, Dr Sim pointed out that it was the prerogative of the Natural Resource and Environment Board (NREB) to decide on the building of the public recreational parks.

According to him, each local council has committed to building public recreational parks equipped with the necessary amenities, adding that those under the MBKS’ jurisdictions, for instance, also serve as venues for the local community to carry out healthrelated activities.

To make full use of a public recreational park, he said activities should be held there regularly besides making sure the trees and flowers are planted properly to keep the environment green and lively.

That said, he was pleased to note that more youths had also been willing to spend their time in public recreational parks in his state constituency, Batu Kawah.

Meanwhile, Kuching South mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng in welcoming the move by the federal ministry to build 50 public recreational parks every year, said the MBKS would continue to upgrade existing parks in areas within its jurisdiction.

He said aid MBKS would also ensure that physical distancing could be practised in public parks – a point that he viewed as being essential, particularly after the Covid-19 pandemic.

“With more space and safe distance, the possibility of infections can be reduced. It will be more beneficial if we can expand and upgrade our existing parks,” he said.