Sarawak shelves plans for ‘mini Putrajaya’ due to land issues, delays

 Deputy minister Abdul Rahman Junaidi says the project in Rambungan could not proceed despite related infrastructure having been planned.

Sarawak deputy minister Abdul Rahman Junaidi said delays to the project left sections of Lebuhraya Pehin Sri Haji Adenan Haji Satem without proper lighting for years. (Ukas pic)

PETALING JAYA:

The Sarawak government has shelved a proposal to develop a federal administrative centre in Rambungan due to several constraints, including land issues and delays in implementation.

Abdul Rahman Junaidi, a deputy minister in the premier’s department, said plans had previously been made to develop a “mini Putrajaya” to house federal departments and agencies following talks with the federal government, Dayak Daily reported. The centre was planned for development on a 2,020ha site handed over by the state government to the federal government.

He said the project could not proceed despite related infrastructure having been planned to support the area’s development. The lack of progress on the project had also left sections of a major road, Lebuhraya Pehin Sri Haji Adenan Haji Satem, without proper lighting for years.

“Because the road was delayed, the lighting was delayed too,” he was quoted by Sarawak Tribune as saying. Some lighting installed earlier had been energised but remained disconnected because the road connection to the site was never completed, he said. - FMT