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BDA has the capacity to transform Bintulu into a brightening star for S’wak’s central region – CM
Posted on : 29 Jul 2018  Source of News: The Borneo Post
 

Rodziah (second left) presents a souvenir to Abang Johari during the BDA’s 40th anniversary dinner.

BINTULU: Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) being the only local government that has an autonomous power in Sarawak has the capacity to transform Bintulu into a brightening star for the central region in Sarawak, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.

From just a small fishing village, he said in just 40 years BDA has so far brought greater change to the development landscape of Bintulu.

“In the spirit of unity, in the next 40 years Bintulu will continue to be developed and congrats to BDA for its 40th anniversary.

“On behalf of the state government and BDA board members, I would like to thank the BDA management and staff from the beginning of its establishment till today for you excellence services in BDA,” said Abang Johari who is the chairman of BDA during BDA’s 40th anniversary dinner at Dinner World Restaurant here last night.

Among those present during the dinner were Minister of Utilities Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip, Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, BDA general manager Rodziah Morshidi, BDA board members, local community leaders, BDA senior officers and their spouses.

Abang Johari noted in 40 years BDA has transformed the Bintulu landscape significantly from a small village into a bigger town with the population now about 251,000 people.

“This means, BDA under the leadership of the previous leaders since 1978 till today has contribute to the development in the central region.

“I have been given a feedback that Bintulu is the most structured city in Sarawak, in the aspect of well-organised development and the people’s friendly facilities consists of its green scenery and building arrangement,” he said.

Abang Johari thus extended his gratitude to former Chief Ministers the late Tun Abdul Rahman Ya’kub for opening up Bintulu, Pehin Sri Taib Mahmud for his enormous contribution in further developing Bintulu with the setting up of Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda) and Samalaju Industrial Park and the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem for his strong and united government.

He said these great leaders were the ones who had developed Bintulu to what it is today which gave him a better platform as the current chief minister of Sarawak to continue their efforts in further develop this oil and gas town.

He said in the next 40 years, Bintulu should be able to move forward and become a more structured city in Malaysia.

“The reason is Bintulu has the resources, Bintulu has the advantages over the other parts, so if Bintulu is develop on the same pattern as a structured city, in future it will become something that is like a star in the region,” Abang Johari added.

Bintulu, he said, has benefited from its natural resources, but the resources alone cannot develop the area.

“If we look at Japan and Korea, they have no resources but still has a strong economic structures because of creativity and vision of their leaders,” he pointed out.

Abang Johari said the iconic bridge over the Kemena river crossing Bintulu to Jepak area which will be constructed next year will become a landmark in Bintulu.

He said in the long term, Jepak area will be a new township that could attract tourists as more projects will be implemented on the other side of the Kemena river in efforts to make Bintulu as a unique city in Sarawak.

“With Kidurong and Samalaju and here we will have another attraction , I believe we can add to the resources that Bintulu has with certain vision in terms of tourism and services sector, people will come, we can move other sectors as we develop Bintulu,” he said.

Earlier Rodziah said BDA has set up its welfare fund for its staff with a starting grant of RM600,000 and Abang Johari later announced the state government will contribute RM400,000 to the welfare fund.

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