Satok is becoming a greater tourist attraction. This is made possible by having a troubleshooter as an assemblyman. Previously Abang Johari was the industrial minister where high technology industries landed on the shore of Sarawak.
When he was the tourism minister, he became the laughing stock of the cabinet calling him the tourist guide. However this did not stop him from bringing more tourist to Sarawak. He introduced Sarawak as a beautiful land of the hornbills with fascinating beaches and friendly faces replaced from the orang utan mascot with the beautiful hornbills and traditional pua kumbu.
He did not stop there. He transformed the Sungai Sarawak by giving a facelift calling it Kuching Waterfront and now having another extension by the name of Esplanade. A few wind power turbine could be seen at Esplanade to welcome eco-friendly green technology!!
Satok is now facing another facelift after the New Kubah Ria building being erected. Sungai Bedil Besar will be the main camp for the Sarawak river taxi, albeit similar to the gondola but uniquely decorated with Sarawakians design.
Apart from creating a tourist hot spot, flood mitigation is also being developed to ensure the safety of the river commuter and also the nearby villagers. Well done and a big hand to Abang Johari. His creative thinking has been treating us well in Satok!! We are glad to have an assemblyman just like you!!!
Sg Bedil Besar to become tourist attraction
by Lim How Pim. Posted on March 11, 2011, Friday
KUCHING: The government is eyeing Sungai Bedil Besar, here and will make the area into a tourist attraction engaging more efforts to enhance the landscape and water quality there.
RIVERINE ATTRACTION: Uggah (second left) with Abang Johari (third left) taking a closer look at a project plan. Also seen are Dr Rahman (left) and Hasidah (second right).
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dato Sri Douglas Uggah Embas said the first phase of flood mitigation project there was going on in a ‘satisfactory’ manner and scheduled for completion in August this year.
Valued at RM6 million, the phase involves building a two-kilometre retention wall along the riverbank to prevent erosion.
Inspecting the project site at Kampung Sungai Bedil Besar in Petra Jaya near here yesterday, Uggah said the federal government had approved RM8 million for the second phase of the project to construct an eight-kilometre embankment in preventing flood.
The second phase is expected to commence in June this year. Both projects come under the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP).
“These projects are not only meant to mitigate flood as eventually, this major river in Sarawak will be improved in terms of quality.
“While the government is working towards this end, the local communities are called to play their role in helping maintain the river’s quality,” he said.
Uggah, who is Betong MP, advised people to take care of the river to ensure cleanliness as their commitment could help attract more visitors to the area.
Asked when the second phase would be completed, he said: “We hope it will be done as soon as possible.”
Among those present were Minister of Housing and Urban Development cum Satok assemblyman Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg, Pantai Damai assemblyman Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi and Semaring assemblywoman Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali.
