MIRI: A housing development similar to the Darul Hana project in Kuching will soon take shape in Padang Kerbau here, as part of the Sarawak Government’s efforts to provide safer and more secure settlements for residents currently living along riverbanks.

Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg, said the development will span 200 acres of land, with the first phase comprising 200 residential units.

“We will develop 200 acres in Padang Kerbau, and for the first phase, 50 acres will be utilised to construct 200 housing lots,” he said.

“I have approved RM200 million for the initial phase, and eventually, the full 200-acre area will be developed into a housing project right in the heart of Miri,” he announced during a Hari Raya Aidilfitri gathering hosted by five branches of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Miri at a hotel here on Saturday.

According to Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari, the Sarawak Government will fully bear the cost of land preparation, including land embankment works, installation of electricity and water infrastructure, road construction, and concrete drainage for the project.

In a further move to ease home ownership, he added that the state government will also cover an upfront payment of RM10,000 for each unit, giving residents a financial boost in acquiring their homes.

The initiative is part of the government’s broader vision to ensure urban development benefits all segments of the population, especially those in vulnerable housing situations. -UKASnews