KUCHING: Victims of the landslide that occurred on January 29 in Kampung Lereng Bukit, Miri will be relocated to a new area.

Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Patinggi Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the implementation of the relocation project will begin after Gawai Dayak and will be carried out by Sarawak Government agencies.

"As for the total damage to 15 houses in Miri, this matter has also been agreed to be implemented after the Gawai celebration because the land has been acquired and the issue is resolved.

"We have also agreed to devolve the implementation authority to the state government agency to implement this project, and will no longer use FELCRA Bina or MARA as the implementer," he explained.

He said this at a press conference after chairing the Briefing Session on the Implementation of Development Programmes and Projects of the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) in Kuching on Friday.

It is understood that this location was selected and determined by the Land Custody and Development Agency (LCDA) near the Orang Ulu Rurum Kelabit village area in Miri.

Meanwhile, Datuk Patinggi Dr. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the KKDW Minister, said that his ministry remains committed to implementing all the projects in Sarawak implemented by KKDW.

He further said that there were five projects that involved site issues such as permits, land acquisition and understanding the alignment of pipes in addition to weather factors.

"I have personally asked KKDW Deputy Minister, Datuk Rubiah Wang, to coordinate and report every week for monitoring and implementation purposes.

"Hopefully, if there are any problems from other ministries involving allocations that cannot be channeled or implemented, they can be resolved immediately.

"This is important because the people of Sarawak must be given priority, in line with the priorities that have been identified by the people, especially in rural and outlying areas throughout Malaysia. Sarawak also needs to enjoy what other states in Malaysia have achieved," he explained.

Additionally, this briefing session was also a directive from Prime Minister, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim following a one-day working visit to Kuching on April 19.

Under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), Sarawak received RM3.2 billion for the implementation of 403 programmes and projects with a total cost of RM21.73 billion.

Of that total, 178 projects (44.71 per cent) are still in 'Pre-Implementation' status, including 155 projects approved from 2021 to 2025.

A total of 91 projects or almost 46 percent of the projects with 'Pre-Implementation' status are expected to receive a Letter of Acceptance (SST) by the end of 2025 at the latest.

Present during the briefing session were the Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Professor Dr. Sim Kui Hian, Sarawak Minister of Utility and Telecommunication, Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi, Sarawak Deputy Minister of Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development, Datuk Martin Ben, KKDW Deputy Minister, Datuk Rubiah Wang, Deputy Sarawak Secretary (Administration), Datu Buckland Bangik and heads of departments.

After the press conference, Datuk Patinggi Dr. Zahid Hamidi performed Friday prayers at Masjid India, Kuching before moving to Mahashafi Restaurant for lunch.

Accompanying him were Dato Sri Julaihi, Datuk Martin Ben, Datuk Rubiah, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department of Sarawak (Project Coordinator for Regional Development Agency, Kuching North City Hall and Islamic Affairs), Datuk Dr. Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Mayor of Kuching North City Hall, Dato Hilmy Othman and President of the Sarawak Islamic Council, Datuk Misnu Taha. -UKASnews

Photo credit: Sarawak Information Department