Govt to identify suitable site for proposed Limbang town square
LIMBANG: Limbang needs a town square to not only complement its growth and potential as an attractive border trade town, but also to serve as a ‘green lung’ area.
According to Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, the state government is still identifying a suitable site for the proposed facility.
“Limbang should not be a concrete jungle – it needs a town square that can also act as the ‘green lung’ for the expanding town,” he said in his speech prior to witnessing the swearingin ceremony of local district councillors at Purnama Hotel on Monday, which was also attended by Limbang MP Hasbi Habibollah, Batu Danau assemblyman Paulus Palu Gumbang and Limbang District Officer Hamdiah Bekir.
The minister acknowledged that Limbang District Council ( LDC) would play a vital role in rolling out development of this town in a holistic and systematic approach, with long-term benefits for the people as its top priority.
He said landscaping programmes, which also comprised greening the town and providing infrastructures, would continue to be featured prominently on LDC’s town planning agenda.
Awang Tengah – also Minister of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development, Trade and Investment – later called on the councillors to be creative, innovative and firm in discharging their duties as the third- tier government in this district, as well as in balancing expenses and limited revenue sources.
“Every council member should provide input to the plans drawn up under the council’s programmes, to be in tandem with the peoplecentric policy advocated by the state government, led by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem,” he said.
A total of 32 councillors took their oath during the ceremony, led by Limbang Walikota Sufian Mohat and his deputy Dahlan Dollah.
In his remarks, Sufian highlighted that LDC had a
Limbang should not be a concrete jungle – it needs a town square that can also act as the ‘green lung’ for the expanding town.
systematic programme in bringing about multi-faceted development and services to benefit the locals and thus, he hoped that 2016-2018 batch of councillors, particularly the new blood, would strive to uphold government policies and regulations.
“I call on the new faces to familiarise themselves with these ( policies and regulations), as well as plans lined up by LDC and other issues, as they perform the duties and responsibilities entrusted to them.”
Sufian said LDC had already drawn up traffic and landscaping master plans for this district, on top of projects that had been already carried out over the past five years amounting to RM10 million.
“Our focus now would be the traffic flow master plan, aimed
Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment
at reducing congestion in town, particularly in areas around the Tamu Besar every Thursday and Friday,” he said, adding that LDC is also the only district council in the state to embark on Level 2 solid waste management practice.
Sufian also listed sports and recreational activities as areas being given emphasis, as could be seen with the hosting of Hari Bukit Mas every October as the avenue of participation and interaction for the communities.
It is an event that holds various sports, recreational and cultural activities.
“Hari Bukit Mas is the brainchild of Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail (Assistant Minister of Welfare and Community Wellbeing and Bukit Kota assemblyman),” said the walikota.