Minos welcomes move to set up integrated development authority for Samarahan
KUCHING: Kota Samarahan Municipal Council ( KSMC) chairman Dato Peter Minos welcomes the Sarawak government’s move to set up the Integrated Regional Samarahan Development Authority ( IRSDA).
He said this is because IRSDA will focus on the economic and integrated development of Sarawak’s southern region, which Samarahan is a part of.
“It will initiate, plan, approve, get funds, do and complete economic projects, other related projects for the betterment of southern region of Sarawak,” he said when contacted yesterday.
“This special regional body for Sarawak’s southern region based in Samarahan to coordinate and implement development in the region will be well accepted and welcomed.
“The special body will see more things coming up in Samarahan especially modern agriculture, using and applying modern technology. All these will create jobs and income for the betterment of the area and its people. We can thus expect more progress and prosperity in Samarahan in the coming years,” he added.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg announced the move to set up IRSDA when officiating at the KSMC second anniversary dinner at Kota Samarahan Civic Centre on Sunday.
KSMC’s anniversary day falls on Nov 11.
Other state cabinet ministers present were Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian and Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sports and Youth Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
Minos, in his welcoming speech, said 90 per cent of rural Samarahan especially Asajaya and Sadong Jaya can be developed with modern agriculture and only 10 per cent of Kota Samarahan is well developed as modern residential and commercial centre as well as an intellectual and medical hub.
“Asajaya and Sadong Jaya have space, land and fertile soil. They can be turned into the food basket for Kuching and surrounding areas,” he elaborated.
Minos also called for improved public transport system in Samarahan to reduce or eliminate the traffic jams at peak hours in Kota Samarahan. .
“We take YAB CM’s (Abang Johari) advice in his speech as positive, congratulating KSMC for trying and doing its best in its first two years as a municipality but now is time to manage the success,” said Minos.
Minos also lauded Abang Johari’s announcement that funding for traffic lights in Kota Samarahan to ease traffic jams and associated problems had been approved.
“Also the LRT idea will be looked into, as a first phase, from Kuching to Kota Samarahan and back. Both Kuching and Kota Samarahan have concentrated population and thus deserve convenient public transport like LRT,” said Minos.