The Sarawak government’s proposed restructuring of land use in the Pending Industrial Estate is aimed at creating a more sustainable, conducive and higher-value urban environment in line with Kuching’s rapid development.
Deputy Premier and Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said findings from an online survey conducted jointly by the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment (MINTRED) and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development (MUDeNR) would support long-term strategic planning for the area.
“The findings of this study will enable strategic planning to create a more sustainable, conducive and quality land-use zone,” he said in response to issues raised by Pending assemblyman Violet Yong during his ministerial winding-up speech today.
Awang Tengah said property values in the area are also expected to increase following the land-use restructuring exercise.
He stressed that industries deemed suitable would be retained, while those requiring relocation would be moved to more appropriate areas.
“As we know, the area currently consists of various industrial activities including heavy, medium and light industries, wood-based industries such as sawmills, shipping activities and industries contributing to environmental pollution. All these need to be reorganised,” he said.
He described the move as part of the government’s long-term planning efforts as Kuching continues to expand rapidly and requires comprehensive future land-use planning.
Awang Tengah emphasised that the initiative was not intended to drastically remove industrial operators but would instead adopt a win-win approach that considers the needs of all stakeholders.
He added that similar urban transformation and land-use restructuring initiatives had been implemented in developed countries worldwide, citing examples such as Tokyo Bay in Japan, Oslo in Norway and Vancouver in Canada.
“Rejecting land-use restructuring and urban transformation means choosing to remain in areas that are unorganised, outdated and inconsistent with the aspirations of a modern and smart city,” he said.
Responding to matters raised Tupong assemblyman Datuk Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman, Awang Tengah said every housing development application submitted to the government undergoes detailed evaluation involving relevant agencies before approval is considered.
He said assessments cover aspects such as road connectivity, development density, infrastructure capacity, compliance with planning standards, technical requirements and existing development plans to ensure projects are implemented in an orderly, safe and sustainable manner.
The government is also continuously reviewing the need to upgrade road networks and develop alternative routes to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow in rapidly developing areas.
