SARIKEI: A new low-cost housing scheme, proposed for Taman Susur Jambu, Sungai Sentebu, located 5 kilometres from here has been approved and about 80 acres of state land has been granted for the project. Assistant Minister of Food Industries Datuk David Teng disclosed that the State Land and Survey Department has approved the site for the housing development project. “The project would be developed by the Housing Commission in stages,” he said, adding that an area of about 30 acres would be developed under the first phase. Under Phase 1, some 400 to 500 units of low-cost houses would be built, he added. Teng believed that this is a piece of good news for most who have waited to own an affordable home, especially those who have sought the assistance ...

  KAPIT: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak continued his walkabout to the interior areas of Sarawak by going to Pekan Song and Kapit in Ulu Rajang, the longest river in Malaysia. Immediately upon arriving by helicopter at the Song district field at 9.30am, the prime minister proceeded to the town centre with 5,000 people, mostly comprising the Iban community who cheered ’1Malaysia’ and ‘Hidup Barisan Nasional’ (long live Barisan Nasional). Najib, who is the first prime minister to come to the small town, was greeted with a traditional cultural performance by students of a secondary school here. In his speech, Najib announced an allocation of RM90 million for the construction of a road stretching about 40km from Song to Kapit, which is now only accessible ...

  KAPIT: Some 2,000 units of Astro decorders and telivison sets will be distributed to longhouses in the interior areas of the state this year. Deputy Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum said the respective district offices would identify the recipients. “Each longhouse will get one unit which will be placed under the longhouse chief’s care. “The units will be distributed after the state election,” he said after visiting Rh. Kilau, one of the five longhouses in Sungai Tunoh settlement areas in the interior of Baleh, about one-day journey by longboat and 4-wheel drive from here. Salang who flew in to the area added the longhouses must be in those areas where the people could not get the Radio Television ...

  SIBU: The 88km Sibu-Tanjong Manis road is currently 96% completed. The RM530mil project, which includes the construction of eight bridges, began under the Ninth Malaysia Plan in 2006. The huge amount is the single largest funding allocated for the implementation of an infrastructure project in Sarawak by the Federal Government. Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said when fully completed in May this year, the road would play a pivotal role in the economic development of Sibu and its surrounding areas as it would link the town with Tanjong Manis Industrial Zone in less than an hour. He said Sibu would stand to benefit from increased business and development opportunities especially from projects implemented in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy such ...

  DOING WELL: (From left) Tang, Tiong, Shaziman and Wong discussing the progress of the project. SIBU: Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor revealed that 96 per cent of the Sibu-Tanjung Manis road has been completed. Speaking to reporters during an inspection visit along Tanjung Manis road yesterday, Shaziman is expecting the remaining works in the third package to be completed at the end of May. “I can see that the development of the RM530 million project to construct the 88km road connecting Sibu to Tanjung Manis Port is good,” he enthused. He pointed out that the construction of Sibu-Tanjung Manis road had proven the government’s concern towards economic development in Sibu. He believed that the completed road would help boost ...

  BINTULU: The Ministry of Works will prioritise road repairs in Sarawak based on the economic impact of the particular road. Minister of Works Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said the economic impact would be based on priorities such as link roads to airports, industrial areas, ports, tourism or even farms. Due to the many industries coming into Sarawak such as the aluminium smelter in Mukah, he said, the ministry would review the need to upgrade the road from Sibu to Bintulu, especially from Tatau to Bintulu. “At the same time a new road from Balingian to Sibu-Bintulu federal road will also be upgraded.” He told the media this during his visit and inspection of Tatau road yesterday. Road upgrading, he said, would improve transportation for those who invest ...

  KUCHING: The 1Malaysia Cure and Care Clinic has been set up in the PUSPEN drug rehabilitation centre here to help drug addicts from going into a relapse. Deputy Home Minister Dato Wira Abu Seman Yusop said the clinic will offer treatments to inmates of the centre as well as those who come voluntarily to help them overcome their addictions, including glue sniffing and inhalant. “Parents or relatives of the drug dependant persons can bring them to seek treatment at the clinic,” he said at the closing of Home Ministry Program Mesra at PUSPEN here yesterday. Also present were National Anti-Drug Agency (NADA) director general Dato’ Zuraidah Mohamed and state NADA director Yap Chung Hong. Abu Seman added that a meeting between NADA and the state Health ...

  KUCHING: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak did a walkabout at the Stutong Community Market here yesterday and delighted the 550-odd hawkers present with a RM300,000 allocation for upgrading purposes. The money would be used, among others, to make the market more comfortable and to equip it with closed circuit television (CCTV) and Wifi facilities. In his speech after mingling and exchanging greetings with the crowd, Najib said he was aware that the food court was uncomfortable for both hawkers and patrons because it was hot and humid. “The allocation would also be used to improve the ceiling and ventilation system to make the place comfortable for everyone. “This allocation is also a sign of BN’s appreciation to the people living in the ...

  HEALING POWERS: Dawos pointing to the hot spring earmarked for upgrading. KUCHING: Malaysian Tourism Ministry is committed to upgrading Panchor Hot Spring as it has huge tourist potential. It is set to become a favourite domestic attraction for weekend picnickers. The natural hot spring is said to contain medicinal elements that can heal diseases as well as improving an individual’s general well being. All one needs to do is to soak in the hot spring. “The upgrade will cover the existing facilities of the area such as the toilet, changing rooms, hot water pond, as well as the tourist information counter,” said deputy minister Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit when launching the upgrading project. Dawos said the ministry had already taken steps ...

  SRI AMAN: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced a RM200 million new hospital for Sri Aman, which will start construction this year. Najib, who was in Sri Aman together with Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, made the announcement at a press conference here after touring the current hospital. “In line with the 1Malaysia’s slogan ‘People First, Performance Now’ and after being informed of the troubles faced by the people of  Sri Aman, I am glad to announce a new RM200 million hospital that can accommodate 108 beds, which will start construction  this  year,” said Najib. According to Najib, the new site of the hospital has been identified and ground works will be done first as half the site is on swampy ...