Keeping old charm for new Santubong
KUCHING: The massive multibillion master plan to transform Santubong parliamentary constituency will take between 15 to 20 years to implement, said its re- elected MP Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
He said the master plan would include the transformation of traditional villages near Darul Hana area; near the toll bridge to Kampung Tabuan Cemerlang to the transformation of the whole belt of tourism hub which stretches from Kpg Santubong right up to Teluk Melano.
“The whole idea is transform the whole area so that we can address the rural-urban migration problem, providing quality housing as well as to provide a higher income status through tourism-related activities,” Wan Junaidi told The Borneo Post after briefing village chiefs from his constituency at his office here recently.
He added that Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and Housing and Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg have made the commitment to develop the whole area.
“The government is not looking at just the short term but also on the long term solution so that we can have a better lifestyle within the next 20 years. And at the same time, we still retain our traditional village concept be it Malays or Ibans,” he explained.
Wan Junaidi, who is also the deputy speaker of Parliament, believed that eco-tourism industry and its related spinoff such as the cottage industry would improve the livelihood of the people.
“The area stretching from Kpg Santubong to Tanjung Datu would become a tourism belt in future that would bring benefits to the people there,” he said.
Commenting on the master plan, Penghulu Edama Mohamad from Demak Laut was optimistic that the master plan could be implemented for the benefit of the people.
“Although it would take time to implement, it is better than having no plan at all. So we hope our people will be receptive to new ideas,” he said.
He said it would be impossible to implement the whole master plan in a shorter time frame because the authorities concerned would have to lobby for the funds as well.
“And we know very well that we have a very big state where the government needs to develop (elsewhere) as well. So we cannot be selfish,” he stressed.
An Iban Tuai Rumah, Lia Mudet of Kampung Foochow Dayak, said the transformation plan would take place in stages.
“But in the meantime, we need to widen our village road. We also need more street lighting in our village,” said Lia, who is the first female chief of her village.
She also appealed to the council to provide better waste
The whole idea is transform the whole area so that we can address the rural-urban migration problem, providing quality housing as well as to provide a higher income status through tourism-related activities. Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, newly re-elected MP for Santubong
management to her people as currently there were not enough rubbish bins for the villagers.
Village chief of Kpg Bako Hilir, Janibah Hazmi, welcomed the plan and hoped it would improve the quality of life of her people where currently, the houses are congested.
“We need to improve the facilities in the village such as widening of the road, street lighting as well as to improve drainage system,” said Janibah.