Dr Abdul Rahman (centre) presents a memento to a local resident, as Asman looks on.
 

KUCHING: The first phase of the Darul Hana Housing project has commenced and should reach completion by December next year.

The first phase, which involves the relocation of Kampung Panglima Seman Lama, Kampung Semarang and Kampung Pulo Ulu, consists of the construction of Block 1A and 2A which should take about two to three years, says Assistant Minister of Rural Electricity Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi.

“Under Phase I, we will build four demo units on a site near the Petronas petrol station, located across the Darul Hana Mosque. The villagers can visit the demo units (once they are ready),” he spoke during a thanksgiving ceremony for the project at Masjid Darul Hana here on Friday night.

The Darul Hana mega development was the brainchild of Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, back when he was still the chief minister in 2011.

According to Dr Abdul Rahman, who is Pantai Damai assemblyman, the development covers 721 acres of resettlement areas for 12 villages – affecting 2,525 houses, 4,278 families and a total f 16,655 residents.

“A project by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), it also involves the Land Custody Development Authority (LCDA) and Daya Builder Sdn Bhd.

“Upon completion, the Darul Hana development will be the most modern and best-planned village in Sarawak, with the latest infrastructure and it being digitally connected with the latest Internet facility,” he said, adding that 16 designs for single-storey terraced and double-storey terraced units would be available.

HDC chief executive officer Mohamad Asman Ahmad was also present at the Friday night event.