{"id":24190,"date":"2024-03-06T05:09:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-05T21:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rakansarawak.com\/v3\/?p=24190"},"modified":"2024-03-06T07:14:31","modified_gmt":"2024-03-05T23:14:31","slug":"sarawaks-ongoing-urban-renewal-endeavour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rakansarawak.com\/v4\/2024\/03\/06\/sarawaks-ongoing-urban-renewal-endeavour\/","title":{"rendered":"Sarawak\u2019s Ongoing Urban Renewal Endeavour"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

During the Dewan Undangan Negeri<\/em> (DUN) Sarawak sitting in November 2023<\/a>, the Premier of Sarawak YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg tabled the 2024 State Budget, which is framed across 12 strategic thrusts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 11th<\/sup> strategic thrust \u2013 \u2018Combating Poverty and Enhancing People\u2019s Well-being\u2019 \u2013 focuses on poverty alleviation through improvements in household income and quality of life, specifically \u201ccatalytic initiatives\u201d implemented by various ministries and agencies designed to uplift the socio-economic level of Sarawakians.  <\/p>\n\n\n

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The Sarawak State Urban Renewal Implementation Guidelines (SURIG) strive to overcome challenges resulting from rapid urban population growth in Sarawak’s major cities and towns. Screenshot from YouTube<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

One of the initiatives under this strategic thrust is \u2018Enhancing Home Ownership and Affordability\u2019 for low-income households to have their own house through financial assistances and housing schemes carried out by the Sarawak Government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This includes the Urban Renewal Programme, which the Premier said are being undertaken \u201cto improve the standard and quality of life of the people by providing affordable housing, well-planned settlements with basic infrastructure, recreational facilities, places of worship and business premises.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He cited some prominent projects under this programme that are either completed or in progress, including the Darul Hana Redevelopment Project, Sungai Bedaun Housing Project, Tabuan Melayu and Tabuan Foochow Redevelopment Project, and Jepak Redevelopment Project.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Sungai Bedaun Housing Project (ca. 2022). Photo from Red Parrot Facebook page<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Furthermore, he noted that two new projects \u2013 Bukit Assek Redevelopment Project and Kampung Seberang Kedai Lawas Redevelopment Project \u2013 have been approved under the Mid-Term Review of the 12th<\/sup> Malaysia Plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strengthening Urban Renewal Implementation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also in the works is improvements on the Sarawak State Urban Renewal Implementation Guidelines<\/a> (SURIG).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduced and implemented in 2018 by the Government through the Ministry of Urban Development and Natural Resources (now Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development), the guidelines are designed to tackle urban sprawl brought about by rapid urban population growth in Sarawak\u2019s major cities and towns, particularly Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are five key goals of urban renewal in Sarawak outlined in SURIG:<\/p>\n\n\n\n