Rural residents welcomed the proposal to set up a Miri Development Agency

MIRI, 14 September: Residents in rural areas and suburbs of Miri welcomed the proposal by the Sarawak Government to set up a special development agency to accelerate development in the area.

The proposal by the Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari tun openg is seen as being able to give more comprehensive attention to the needs of the population, especially in terms of basic facilities, infrastructure, health and local economic development.

Elvin Dillon, 26, a resident of the Ukong River Long House in Lambir, said that the establishment of the agency was important to ensure that Miri's outskirts and rural areas also received development attention.

Among the basic facilities to be given priority, he said, were roads, water supply, electricity, drainage and health facilities.

"I think it would be nice to have an agency like this because the Miri suburbs and also the rural areas need attention as well".

"I hope that basic facilities like roads will be improved. Besides, water, electricity, drainage and health facilities are also quite important for people in the suburbs of Miri as well as rural areas", he said when meeting TVS here today.

Meanwhile, the merchant from Lambir, Hafiza Muhmud, 33, hoped that the developments implemented would also focus on business facilitation to help increase local income.

He said the amenities in the visitor area should be upgraded to create a better environment for traders and attract more people to visit.

Meanwhile, the Health Nurse at Mother and Child Health Clinic, Monica Laeng, 49, hopes that development will also include improvement of health infrastructure in the area.

He believes that a more complete clinic facility can make it easier for the surrounding population to get adequate treatment.

"I look forward to this Lamb Health Clinic becoming a clinic equipped with the most complete infrastructure".

"This is to make it easier for clients or patients to get proper treatment in the clinic", he said.

For the housekeeper, 42-year-old Santy da Sedau, facilities for traders at Tamu Lambir as well as parents sending children to school should also be taken into consideration in order to improve the comfort of residents.

Another Lambir resident, Florence Michael, 43, said the proposal could help boost the population's economic status as well as benefit the development of children and families in the area.

He said that the implementation of the development agency should also be done transparently to ensure that the benefits of development can be enjoyed by all residents.

"I think it's very good to be implemented for the surrounding areas here, in the Lambir area to raise the population economically, economically and developmentally for children and families here".

"Hopefully, this implementation agency will be implemented well and transparently and can benefit everyone", he said.

Yesterday, Brother Johari Speaking at the Inaugural Council of the United Nations Special Convention Sarawak here announced that the Government of Sarawak agreed in principle to create a special development agency for Miri suburbs to accelerate development in the area.

He believes that the approach takes into account the needs of rural and suburban development in Miri with potential for growth.

The proposal can be implemented through the development agency model as used in other areas of Sarawak. - TVS