Lawas skyline changing with high-rise

LAWAS: A high-rise building for shopping complex and office space has been approved for Lawas by the state government, giving a new dimension to the landscape which will also include a multi-storey building for the new hospital here.

Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said this at the appreciation dinner on Saturday night at Hotel Seri Malaysia for all those involved in the roaring success of the

recent Limbang Division Sejiwa Senada programme here.

“It will be a 12-storey high-rise building with futuristic designs to meet the demand of shopping complex and office space,” he added.

He said these were part of the infrastructure and amenities here that warranted a review of the Lawas Town Expansion Master Plan to meet the current demand.

“I have told the architect of the new Lawas Hospital to come up with a design

by taking into account the town square, waterfront

and the surrounding development which blend in with the surrounding environment,” he said.

He said the second phase of the waterfront project and town square were expected to continue changing the landscape on the ground while the skyline of Lawas would be dramatically changed with the introduction of high-rise buildings in the town.

The upcoming parks in town, Merapok and Trusan would also add aesthetic appeal and provide more avenue to recreational activities in the respective areas, the minister added.

Awang Tengah regretted that negative politics and selfcentred motivations had affected the Trusan Regional Water Supply project which caused thousands of consumers in the district to suffer.

On the success of the Sejiwa Senada programme, he attributed it to the teamwork of all those involved in organising it to recordbreaking achievements, including the highest attendance and participation in e-peraduan contest.

“We have set the benchmark and Samarahan Division which is next on the card had said they are aiming to shatter the record,” he said.

He hoped such spirit of cooperation and teamwork would continue.

Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum Agong, Lawas District Officer Mohd Supaih Hamdan, Awang Tengah’s wife Datuk Dayang Morliah Awang Daud and community leaders were among those present.

Also lighting up the atmosphere was Abu Bakar Ela, the recording artiste from Sabah who tickled the crowd pink by poking fun at himself, politicians and Borneo ethnicity.

14 March 2011 Borneo Post