KUCHING: Villagers and community leaders in Tanjung Embang, Asajaya are bracing for the transformation that the proposed development of a deep-sea port and a new international airport in Tanjung Embang will bring to the area.
They agree that the mega projects will transform the development landscape in the Asajaya and Demak Laut region.
Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability who is also Demak Laut assemblyman, Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni asserted that the projects would improve the peoples’ standard of living and provide more job opportunities for the youth.
“In this regard, I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to the Sarawak Government, particularly the Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, for selecting Tanjung Embang for the projects,” he said in a press statement.
Meanwhile, the Penghulu of Tanjung Embang, Bolhassan Ibrahim, in welcoming the proposed projects, said that once they are completed, they will serve as a gift from the Sarawak Government to the residents, particularly the younger generation.
“Thank you and congratulations to the Premier of Sarawak for selecting our area for these two major projects. Previously, we never imagined that Tanjung Embang would be chosen for such big projects. What is important now is that the younger generation needs to be ready,” he said.
Kampung Semilang community leader, Pauji Ameng, is confident that the projects will not only become a reality but will also change the development landscape in the area.
However, Pauji added that while awaiting the implementation of the mega projects, several small-scale development projects proposed in the area should continue.
The Tanjung Embang area covering 15,000 hectares, is located in the Kuching Division within the Demak Laut State constituency and Santutong Parliamentary constituency. It currently has seven villages: Kampung Beradek, Kampung Semilang, Kampung Beradek Cina, Kampung Tiang Api, Kampung Sungai Pinang, Kampung Sungai Tanju, and Kampung Beliong
The area is close to the Demak Laut Commercial Centre and the city of Kuching. Furthermore, transportation from the area to the city centre will be easier once the construction of the Sejingkat Bridge to connect with Tanjung Bako area is completed.
According to history, Tanjung Embang was originally a small village within the jurisdiction of Kampung Beradek. The name Tanjung Embang was changed to Kampung Tiang Api after two Lighthouse towers were built in the area in the late 1960s.
The two lighthouse towers are still operational today, providing safety signals to ships entering or leaving the Sarawak River heading towards the South China Sea at night.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg had explained the reasons why Tanjung Embang was selected as the new Kuching International Airport, saying that aircrafts would not need to fly over foreign air space while landing and departing from the airport.
“Meanwhile, the construction of the deep-sea port is aimed at accommodating large ships to dock for loading and unloading of goods as existing ports in Sarawak cannot handle large vessels and are unable to meet the frequency of ship calls to Sarawak,” he said.
He advised residents in the Dernak Laut area to prepare for the arrival of these development projects while urging them to equip themselves with knowledge and skills to meet the future labour requirements.
