Abang Johari announces RM500 million to upgrade Serian town

Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg announced an allocation of RM500 million to upgrade Serian town through several infrastructure projects.

Among other things, the allocation will be used to build a complex in Serian town, an iconic bridge on Serian Lake and a commercial centre in Serian new township.

He said the infrastructure development is in line with the new status of Serian as a new division in Sarawak as announced by the late Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem last year.

"I will continue what has been promised by Tok Nan (Adenan). Today I also declare that I will fulfill the aspirations of the Bidayuh community in Serian," he said when launching the Birumuh Festival.

Abang Johari said he wanted to realise Adenan's dream of transforming Serian simultaneously with the construction of the Pan Borneo Highway and transforming the rural development in Sarawak.

At the same event, Abang Johari also announced an allocation of RM5 million for the construction of the Tebedu District Office in the Serian Division and RM2.5 million to upgrade infrastructure at the Ranchang waterfall area here.

"I believe more economic opportunities will be created in Serian and more tourists will visit it on completion of the planned facilities," he added.

Meanwhile, he said the government also has plans to connect the Serian, Kuching and Samarahan divisions by the Light Rail Transit (LRT) which is a much more efficient public transport.

Abang Johari said he would try to find funds to implement the project.

"If there is no money I will find the money, I will announce the new financial module for Sarawak on April 4, so that we are not too dependent on Putrajaya," he said.

He said to ensure a developed Sarawak by 2030, the state needed to accelerate the construction of infrastructure including switching to a digital economy.

Abang Johari also assured that the Sarawak Land and Survey Department will work with the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DNNA) to resolve problems that might arise pertaining to the issuance of letters of ownership of Native Customary Rights (NCR) land.

Thanking the Bidayuh community for giving a big mandate to the Barisan Nasional in the last state election, Abang Johari said he wanted to be a leader to all races.

"I am chief minister to all the races and all the people of Sarawak and I promise our development will be implemented in a fair and equitable manner. I will continue the efforts of my predecessor," he said.

--BERNAMA