LAWAS: The Northern Region Development Agency (NRDA) has pledged to drive sustainable, inclusive, and high-impact development in the Lawas and Limbang regions as part of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP). Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 13MP Project and Programme Proposal Laboratory for the Northern Region on Wednesday, Sarawak Deputy Premier and NRDA Chairman Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan emphasized that the initiative prioritizes practical, community-focused development alongside major infrastructure projects.
“Our focus is not solely on large-scale projects but on ensuring development delivers tangible benefits to the people,” Awang Tengah said, highlighting the importance of addressing the real needs of local communities.
The laboratory, attended by over 100 participants including Members of Parliament, State Assemblymen, senior government officials, and development agency representatives, served as a critical platform for coordinating the region’s five-year development plan. Awang Tengah outlined that the 13MP will be guided by three core principles: Recover, Build, and New. These aim to address project delays, strengthen existing initiatives, and introduce innovative, forward-thinking programs to enhance competitiveness.
To ensure transparency, efficiency, and maximum community impact, the NRDA will adopt a comprehensive approach under the 13MP, incorporating Integrated Results-Based Management (IRBM), Results-Based Budgeting, and Value at Entry frameworks. The laboratory reviewed proposals spanning education, health, commercial agriculture, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and basic infrastructure, aligning with Sarawak’s Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
Key projects include enhancing connectivity through initiatives like the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road (SSLR), Northern Coastal Highway (NCH), and Trans-Borneo Highway. Additionally, plans for the New Lawas Airport and a proposed Deep Sea Port in Lawas aim to bolster industrial growth, particularly in petrochemicals, while fostering cross-border collaboration with Brunei, Sabah, and North Kalimantan to drive regional development. These efforts build on the strategic location of Limbang and Lawas within the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), positioning the region to capitalize on economic opportunities, including Indonesia’s new capital in East Kalimantan.
The NRDA’s commitment reflects Sarawak’s broader vision of balanced, sustainable growth, ensuring no community is left behind in the pursuit of economic and social prosperity by 2030.
