KUCHING: The Greater Kuching Coordinated Development Agency (GKCDA) has channelled part of its allocation towards upgrading federal facilities such as clinics and schools, recognising their importance to Sarawakians and their role in daily community life.
GKCDA special administrative officer Datuk Ik Pahon Joyik said the move reflects the agency’s people-centric development approach, which prioritises the real needs of residents over administrative or jurisdictional boundaries.
“Although clinics and schools fall under federal jurisdiction, they are used by Sarawakians. What matters most to us is that the people benefit directly from the improvements,” he said.
He explained that one school and two clinics, particularly in semi-urban areas within the GKCDA coverage, require upgrading to cope with population growth, ageing infrastructure and rising demand for quality services.
He noted that SK Puruh Karu in the Mambong state constituency had been allocated RM2 million to upgrade the dilapidated school building, adding that the implementation of the project started in May last year.
“So once completed, students from Kpg Karu will not have to go to SK Tapa Sait at Bengoh Resettlement Scheme (BRS) again.
“Now, until the school is fully completed and handed over, parents have to send their children to school early in the morning by vehicles,” he told Sarawak Tribune.
Ik Pahon noted that Bukit Semuja has two healthcare development projects worth a combined RM3.6 million for implementation under the GKCDA, marking a significant enhancement to medical facilities in Serian area.
He said one of the projects involves upgrading the Paediatric Ward at Serian Hospital, with an allocation of RM600,000 while another costing RM3 million, involves the construction of a new Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy (OT/PT) Unit building along with parking facilities at the Serian Health Clinic; both projects had been approved.
The former project is expected to improve comfort levels and enhance the overall quality of care for child patients while the latter is expected to strengthen rehabilitation services and help address parking constraints at the facility.
Ik Pahon said another health care project to be financed under the GKCDA fund will involve the upgrading of the dilapidated Balai Ringin Health Clinic, worth RM1.5 million.
Investments in healthcare and education facilities complement GKCDA’s broader infrastructure agenda, which includes roads, utilities and tourism development projects.
“Access to proper healthcare and quality education facilities is equally important in improving the standard of living of our own people.
“Clinic upgrades would help enhance service delivery, reduce overcrowding and improve patient comfort, while better school facilities would create a more conducive learning environment for students and teachers,” he said.
The inclusion of federal facilities in GKCDA’s development scope demonstrates the everyone’s pragmatic approach in addressing real issues faced by Sarawakians on the ground, he said.
“When the federal government don’t come in, the elected representatives, help, we help. They are federal facilities, but those using the facilities are our own people,” he said.
The state-government funded GKCDA, established to accelerate development in the greater Kuching area, plays a coordinating role in planning and implementing high-impact projects aimed at ensuring balanced and inclusive growth.
