LAWAS – Northern Sarawak is set to benefit from major advancements in healthcare and technical education infrastructure with the construction of the new Lawas Health Clinic and the Sarawak Centre for Technical Excellence (CENTEXS) Campus in Lawas. These two landmark projects are expected to become catalysts for regional development and improved quality of life.
Sarawak Deputy Premier and Bukit Sari State Assemblyman, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, highlighted the significance of these developments as part of the state government’s strategic effort to bridge service gaps between rural and urban communities.
Speaking during a press conference after a site visit on Sunday, he announced that the Lawas Health Clinic is projected to be fully completed by October this year. Despite facing minor construction delays due to additional work, the installation of medical equipment is already underway.
“The new clinic is designed to accommodate up to 300 patients daily with enhanced facilities that reflect modern healthcare standards. It will significantly elevate the quality and efficiency of health services for rural residents,” he said.
In addition to healthcare, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah also visited the newly operational CENTEXS Lawas Campus, which now accommodates between 500 and 700 students—an impressive leap from the previous capacity of 120. The campus offers 21 training programmes across various industries including oil and gas, food technology, IT, hospitality, tailoring, and local culture.
“These programmes align with Sarawak’s commitment to develop a highly skilled workforce capable of supporting emerging sectors like smart agriculture, renewable energy, electronics, tourism, and the food industry,” he explained.
Lawas has been identified as a key regional hub for technical skills training. The CENTEXS campus is also open to students from Sabah, Labuan, and neighbouring Kalimantan, Indonesia, fostering regional integration through cross-border educational collaboration.
“This cross-border initiative is a major step toward regional economic synergy and development,” said Datuk Amar.
Also present during the visit were Limbang Division Resident Unus Tambi, Political Secretary to the Sarawak Premier Awangku Jinal Abedin Pengiran Dato Jawa, Lawas District Officer Ladin Atok, and NRDA Regional Director Datu Ubaidillah Abd Latif.
With these two projects nearing full operation, Lawas is poised to become a model for balanced regional development in Sarawak, showcasing the transformative impact of strategic government investment.
