During the Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Sarawak sitting in November 2023, the Premier of Sarawak YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg tabled the 2024 State Budget, which is framed across 12 strategic thrusts.
The 11th strategic thrust – ‘Combating Poverty and Enhancing People’s Well-being’ – focuses on poverty alleviation through improvements in household income and quality of life, specifically “catalytic initiatives” implemented by various ministries and agencies designed to uplift the socio-economic level of Sarawakians.
One of the initiatives under this strategic thrust is ‘Enhancing Home Ownership and Affordability’ for low-income households to have their own house through financial assistances and housing schemes carried out by the Sarawak Government.
This includes the Urban Renewal Programme, which the Premier said are being undertaken “to improve the standard and quality of life of the people by providing affordable housing, well-planned settlements with basic infrastructure, recreational facilities, places of worship and business premises.”
He cited some prominent projects under this programme that are either completed or in progress, including the Darul Hana Redevelopment Project, Sungai Bedaun Housing Project, Tabuan Melayu and Tabuan Foochow Redevelopment Project, and Jepak Redevelopment Project.
Furthermore, he noted that two new projects – Bukit Assek Redevelopment Project and Kampung Seberang Kedai Lawas Redevelopment Project – have been approved under the Mid-Term Review of the 12th Malaysia Plan.
Strengthening Urban Renewal Implementation
Also in the works is improvements on the Sarawak State Urban Renewal Implementation Guidelines (SURIG).
Introduced and implemented in 2018 by the Government through the Ministry of Urban Development and Natural Resources (now Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development), the guidelines are designed to tackle urban sprawl brought about by rapid urban population growth in Sarawak’s major cities and towns, particularly Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri.
There are five key goals of urban renewal in Sarawak outlined in SURIG:
- Uplift the physical and social well-being of communities;
- Provide conducive, safe, healthy and orderly development;
- Increase income of communities through job creation and new business opportunities;
- Generate wealth for property owners and their future generation; and
- Provide affordable and quality housing for both property owners and their extended families.
Through these guidelines, the Government employs the ‘People First, Public Participatory’ approach that considers physical, social, livelihood and economic elements in urban renewal to ensure improved living standards, an inclusive society and the generation of socio-economic opportunities.
Commenting on bringing SURIG up to date during a working visit in New York City in July 2022, Deputy Premier YB Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah Ali Hasan stated that the guidelines would be enhanced in accordance with the State’s Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
It will also be aligned with the New Urban Agenda, a “focused, action-oriented” framework under the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) to boost the quality of urbanisation.
The initiative is a collaboration between the Government and the United Nations Development Programme; both parties have been working together in formulating the Sarawak State Urban Development Policy and the Sarawak Biodiversity Master Plan.
What is the New Urban Agenda?
The New Urban Agenda was adopted at the 2016 United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in Quito, Ecuador, and endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly later in the same year.
It lays out a universal framework for housing and sustainable urban development, with standards and principles for the planning, construction, development, management, and improvement of urban areas along its five main pillars of implementation:
- National urban policies;
- Urban legislation and regulations;
- Urban planning and design;
- Local economy and municipal finance; and
- Local implementation.
The New Urban Agenda represents a shared vision for a better and more sustainable future. If well-planned and well-managed, urbanisation can be a powerful tool for sustainable development for both developing and developed countries.
Read more about it here: https://habitat3.org/the-new-urban-agenda/
References:
Ma, C.S. (2022, July 23). Urban renewal guidelines to be in line with PCDS2030, UN-Habitat’s New Urban Agenda: Deputy Premier. New Sarawak Tribune. https://www.newsarawaktribune.com.my/urban-renewal-guidelines-to-be-in-line-with-pcds2030-un-habitats-new-urban-agenda-deputy-premier/
Saiful, B.A.R. (2023). Social Impact Assessment (SIA) in Urban Renewal Projects in Sarawak. [PowerPoint slides]. International Association for Impact Assessment. https://conferences.iaia.org/2023/presentations/Amra_Ramly_SIA_in_Urban_Renewal.pdf
Sarawak Government. State Legislative Assembly (20 November 2023). Second Meeting of the Second Session, Nineteenth Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Debates. (Hansard). https://duns.sarawak.gov.my/web/subpage/webpage_view/118
United Nations Human Settlements Programme. (n.d.). The New Urban Agenda. [Brochure]. https://unhabitat.org/sites/default/files/download-manager-files/The%20New%20Urban%20Agenda%20_%20Revised%20Low%20Res.pdf
