BETONG: The Sarawak Government is set to accelerate the redevelopment of the former Rajang Area Security Command (RASCOM) area under the Mid Rajang Regional Development Agency (MiRRDA) following the Federal Government’s agreement to return unused federal land to the state under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state has already prepared comprehensive plans to transform the area, with an initial allocation of RM1.5 billion earmarked for redevelopment.
“We indeed have plans because the RASCOM area comes under MiRRDA. We want to redevelop the area with an initial allocation of RM1.5 billion,” he told a press conference after launching the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Special Convention Betong Zone 2026 here today.
He said the redevelopment would address longstanding issues faced by communities in the area, particularly overcrowded longhouses and inadequate road connectivity.
“Many of the longhouses there are too densely populated. When they become overcrowded, road access is also not very good. We have already started building roads and have prepared a local plan for the area. There is also potential to develop the agricultural industry there,” he said.
Abang Johari added that the redevelopment blueprint was prepared by the MiRRDA committee, chaired by Datuk Seri Aaron Ago Dagang, with implementation coordinated by former State Secretary, Datuk Amar Jaul Samion.
Meanwhile, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the return of unused federal land followed discussions between the State and Federal Governments under the devolution of powers agenda.
“We have reached an agreement through our discussions that any federal land which is not developed within five years, unless there is a concrete development plan, should be returned to the state,” he said.
He added that the state government has already drawn up a local plan to guide the redevelopment of the MiRRDA area once the land is officially handed over.
Earlier, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs), Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, said the Federal Government had agreed to return control of several strategic sites in Sarawak to the state as part of ongoing efforts to fulfil the aspirations of MA63.
He said a Cabinet memorandum submitted by the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment proposed the return of federal rights over the former RASCOM site in Sibu, covering four locations namely Nanga Tada, Nanga Jagau, Nanga Ngungun and Nanga Sekuau, with a combined area of 3,655.60 hectares.
Under the arrangement, the Sarawak Government will reimburse RM9,985,408.50 to cover previous land acquisition costs and outstanding land taxes managed by the Federal Land Commissioner in Sarawak.
