» »Unlabelled » High-rise answer to migration — Abg Jo BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

17:32:00

High-rise answer to migration — Abg Jo BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

High-rise answer to migration — Abg Jo

Posted: 26 Jan 2014 03:02 PM PST

by Marilyn Tenreporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on January 27, 2014, Monday

SANTUBONG: The Ministry of Housing (MOH) is looking into the development of high-rise residential buildings in an attempt to address the scarcity of land in urban areas of Kuching.

According to Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, this is in view of the pressing need for more housing development in urban areas as more people migrate to the city from rural areas around the state.

"Based on demography, the city's occupancy rate is 58 per cent whereas in rural areas is only 42 per cent.

"However, as land is scarce and expensive in Kuching urban areas, one solution is to develop more high-rise residential buildings," he said at a press conference after attending the 'Joint-Strategic Transformation Retreat' workshop organised by MOH, Housing Development Corporation and Daya Builders Sdn Bhd (DBSB) here yesterday.

As a start, Abang Johari disclosed that the pilot project would comprise three blocks of 12-storey residential building, estimated to cost around RM40 million, within the Tabuan Melayu area.

"This project will be based on a Singapore design whereby the sixth floor of the building is a common facility equipped with a garden and aerobridge to connect the three blocks.

"We are looking to kick off this project this year and hopefully construction can be completed within 30 months," he remarked.

Meanwhile, the ministry will also be setting up a subsidiary company called Mutiara Mortgage & Credit Sdn Bhd this year that offers housing loans to prospective house buyers unable to obtain loans from banks.

"For instance, a sundry shopowner who has a steady flow of income is unable to get his housing loan approved by the bank due to not meeting certain criteria.

"These are the people we have to address so they will have a facility to purchase affordable housing," noted Abang Johari.

He pointed out that priority will be given to those with a household income of RM3,000 and below, especially those who are married or have dependent family members.

Also present were assistant ministers of Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and Datuk Francis Harden Hollis as well as Pantai Damai assemblyman Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi.

Print Friendly

To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.

Integrated inspection to ensure housing standards met

Posted: 26 Jan 2014 03:01 PM PST

SANTUBONG: The Ministry of Housing (MOH) will assist in inspecting housing development in Sarawak to regulate the state's housing industry.

Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said this will play a pivotal role in ensuring that minimum standards in the state's housing industry are met.

"We will be restructuring our ministry together with the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and these two agencies will work together to find a solution as well as make use of our present infrastructure to ensure they meet the standards," he told reporters at a press conference after attending the Joint-Strategic Transformation Retreat workshop organised by MOH, HDC and Daya Builders Sdn Bhd (DBSB) here yesterday.

Also present were Housing Assistant Ministers Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and Datuk Francis Harden Hollis as well as Pantai Damai assemblyman Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi.

On the workshop, Abang Johari said the programme, which combined the three organisations responsible for the provision of affordable housing and overall development of the state's housing sector, was mainly to review and chart new strategic direction for MOH, HDC and DBSB in line with the expected increase in scope of work and function with the passing of the Housing Development Ordinance 2013 and HDC Ordinance (Amendments) 2013 at the last State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting.

"The programme also looked to formulate a common framework and strategic actions in the organisation's core businesses to ensure MOH, HDC and DBSB are able to function more effectively to achieve its vision and mission, as well as examine the challenges facing the three organisations and address them in an integrated and systematic manner," he added.

Around 62 participants from all three agencies were involved in the three-day retreat held at Damai Beach Resort.

One of the topics was strategic planning framework to develop long-term strategies that optimise organisational strengths and identify opportunities for organisations to achieve their goals.

To support the strategic plan of the three agencies, HDC and DBSB are taking steps to assess and explore new business models to sustain their operations over the long term.

The retreat also focused on examining key topics including enhancing HDC's property management system, exploring business growth and Blue Ocean areas, examining financing models and end-financing strategies for affordable housing provision and reviewing the roles and functions of MOH, HDC and its subsidiaries.

Print Friendly

To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.

Most water supply projects completed — Awg Tengah

Posted: 26 Jan 2014 03:01 PM PST

by Peter Boon reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on January 27, 2014, Monday

SIBU: Most of the 476 water supply projects under the National Key Result Areas (NKRA) in Sarawak have been completed, said Public Utilities Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan.

"Perhaps, about 10 are still at various stages of completion," Awang Tengah, who is also Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment, told The Borneo Post.

He was asked on the completion rate of the water supply projects under NKRA.

"But overall, we are quite happy as most of those projects approved under NKRA are already completed," he said, admitting there was delay in completing some of the projects.

Asked on water wastage in the state, he noted it was better than the national average.

"For example, in Miri – all areas under Laku, on average is about 18 per cent of our NRW (non-revenue water) while Sibu is about 30 per cent," he revealed.

Print Friendly

To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.

Timberland Medical Centre eyes specialists, Unimas interns

Posted: 26 Jan 2014 02:59 PM PST

KUCHING: Timberland Medical Centre is currently knocking on the doors of every new specialist in town and abroad in a recruitment drive to strengthen and expand its services.

Currently, the hospital which opened its doors in 1994, has 14 visiting and 21 resident consultants practising at the centre.

"This is in line with the expansion of our new block where all registered and gazetted specialists of various fields are very welcome to join us," said Timberland Medical Centre executive director Dr Patrick Lau on the sidelines of a healthcare public forum at the centre yesterday.

He also told reporters that a Memorandum of Understanding is also being formulated between them and Unimas to collaborate in various areas such as becoming a training centre for the university's students.

Such collaboration, said Lau, would benefit both institutions and strengthen the state's capabilities in producing quality medical practitioners.

"When students are here, they can learn from experienced doctors and improve their knowledge and confidence," he added.

Since the completion of the centre's new block in 2013, the rate of occupancy he said had risen to almost 70 per cent, further spurred by the affordable price tag on its quality medical services.

Meanwhile, the forum's topic on 'Early Detection of Common Cancers of the Digestive System' was relayed by Singapore's Changi General Hospital's Gastroenterology associate consultant Dr Liew Shan Fap to 120 participants.

According to Dr Liew, the forum will act as a preparatory platform for the public as well as cancer patients and their family members to get further insights on cancer.

Admitting that he received a job offer from Timberland Medical Centre, Dr Liew, who is from Kuching, sees it as a golden ticket for him to return to serve Sarawak.

"If I can manage to return and work in Sarawak this year, all the experience and technology that I have learnt and acquired in Singapore can be brought over. This would ultimately improve the healthcare services here," added Dr Liew.

Print Friendly

To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.

Practise moderation, Muslims advised

Posted: 26 Jan 2014 02:59 PM PST

MIRI: Muslims in the state are urged to adopt a moderate attitude so that they can mingle with other communities around them.

This advice came from Semariang assemblywoman Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, who also said it was equally important for other communities to have the same attitude.

"If we continue to practise it, we will be able to maintain the harmony and prosperity that we are enjoying today," she said when officiating at the 2014 Charity Night event organised by the Muslim Welfare Organisation of Malaysia (Perkim) Miri at a leading hotel here on Saturday night.

Sharifah, who was representing Sarawak Perkim chairperson Dato Hanifah Taib-Alsree, also told the Muslim community to be caring to those in need.

At the same time, she urged them not to practise extremism but reminded them not to be too liberal.

On the charity event, Sharifah said she hoped Perkim would continue to reach out to the target group and expand its role so that more Muslims could be helped through the organisation.

Meanwhile, Perkim Miri chairlady Sharifah Fatimah Tuanku Pauzi said the charity dinner was held to raise funds for organising activities which had been lined up for this year.

"As a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Perkim does need the public to donate money for it to organise more activities for the betterment of the community.

"The money we raise will be distributed to those who are in need," she said.

At the event, Perkim Miri also gave awards to three of its members who had contributed a lot to the organisation.

Also present was Miri Deputy Resident Abdul Aziz Yusuf.

Print Friendly

To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.

Thorough investigation done on power outages, says SEB

Posted: 26 Jan 2014 02:57 PM PST

KUCHING: Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) will not take power outages lightly but are doing thorough investigations as well as learning from the incidences and maximising their efforts in improving their operation.

This was stated by SEB chief operating officer Lu Yew Hung in a media statement issued yesterday.

The statement acknowledges the concerns raised by the Malaysia Association for Shopping and Highrise Management (PPK) Sarawak and merchants concerning the impact of recent power outages to their businesses.

Lu said that they will immediately take an initiative to meet up with the concerned groups, listen carefully to their concerns and find ways on how SEB could improve their services to serve them better.

"At the same time, we could share with them the preventive measures and plans that SEB deploys to improve the reliability of our distribution system," he said.

"Sarawak Energy respects our customers' high expectations and we appreciate the opportunity for constructive dialogue. In the meantime, we will continue to do everything possible to ensure that interruptions to the power supply are minimised."

It was reported in the media yesterday that major shopping malls here recorded an estimated loss of potential sales up to RM1 million during the frequent power outages between 2012 and early this year.

PPK Sarawak representative Ronald Ling was quoted as requesting SEB to ensure that electricity is sufficient to all consumers at all times, saying notice must be sent out to all residents and businesses via public announcement in the event of possibility of a blackout.

"We understand the challenges faced by SEB in serving an area as vast as Sarawak, but we rely on constant and reliable electricity so that we are able to provide our facilities and services to the public and generate income for tenants, government and thousands of workers in our shopping centres," he was quoted as saying.

PPK has 300 shopping centre members throughout Malaysia. In Kuching alone, its members include Plaza Merdeka, Tun Jugah, Green Heights Mall, tHe Spring Shopping Mall, Hills Shopping Mall, The Summer Shopping Mall, CityOne and Eastern Mall.

The eight malls here have more than 1,000 retailers and tenants.

Print Friendly

To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.