New township must have green area, school — Abg Johari
KUCHING: Developers are encouraged to include two very important aspects in their new township development.
Under the private sector-government initiative, the building of new township must include a green area and school, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said the green area within the new township is for recreational activities and for the community to work together.
Aside from that, a new township must also have facilities for school to take away congestion from the town or city areas, he added.
“We have got this private sector-government initiative and I hope more developers will build new township that must include these two aspects – green area and school - in their development,” he said at the handing of keys to SJK (C) Stampin’s new building from San Chin-BBC JV Sdn Bhd to the Sarawak Education Department here yesterday.
Abang Johari thanked San Chin-BBC JV Sdn Bhd for their passion and concern to provide good educational facilities to the children.
He said when there was a proposal to develop the area behind the school’s previous location the government had negotiated that the developer swap land and build a new building for the school.
The developer, he said, had accepted the proposal and now they have a self- contained township - with shops, condominium, recreational facilities as well as a new school building.
“This is an example of private sector- government initiative to ensure our children will have a good place to obtain education.
“You have this hall, you have a good environment and I believe the children can concentrate on their studies because of the environment that is conducive,” he said.
The Chief Minister also approved the request list of the school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) amounting to RM185,000.
He said the Sarawak government always stressed on the importance of education as a way forward in preparing Sarawakians to be competitive both in the domestic and global job and business market.
“Today, many Malay, Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu parents are sending their children to the Chinese medium schools because they want their children to learn Mandarin.
“Now, China and the United States of America ( USA) are quarrelling because both are very strong.
“So we must work with the Chinese and we must work with the Americans also; and therefore we must also know the two languages - Mandarin and English.
“That is why a lot our people are sending their children to the Chinese schools, including my family,” he said.
The Chief Minister’s wife Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee, Mayor of Kuching City South Dato James Chan, Sarawak Education Department deputy director Abang Mat Ali Abang Masagus, chairman of San Chin-BBC JV Sdn Bhd Datuk Barry Yek and San Chin-BBC JV Sdn Bhd managing director Lee Chin Tech were present.