BEAUFORT: A new township will be established in the Lumadan State Legislative Assembly (DUN) area within the next three years to further strengthen development and administrative services in the area.
Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry, Datuk Ruslan Muharam, said the plan is still at an early stage, but development proposals are already being prepared and a suitable site has been identified.
Ruslan, who is also Lumadan Assemblyman, said the proposed development will cover approximately 1,000 acres in Kg Padas Valley and will be implemented through strategic collaboration with developers.
“This new township will not only include shop lots and commercial centres, but will also encompass residential areas, as well as the provision of various basic infrastructure needed by the people.
“The plan, which is expected to be implemented within three years, has also been presented to the Beaufort District Officer during the recent Beaufort District Action Committee meeting,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after officiating the Monthly Programme with the Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK) of Lumadan, which was also attended by Beaufort District Officer Nazri Ajun, recently.
Elaborating further, Ruslan said a proposal has also been submitted for the construction of a hospital within the new township to meet the growing healthcare needs of residents in the district, who are currently facing capacity constraints at existing medical facilities.
He said discussions have been held with the developer to allocate approximately 50 acres of land within the development area for the proposed hospital.
“The need for a new hospital in Beaufort is critical as existing facilities are no longer able to accommodate the increasing number of patients each day,” he said.
Ruslan added that the proposed implementation model for the hospital project would involve construction by a developer before reimbursement claims are made to the government. Initial negotiations, he said, indicate that an agreement in principle has been reached.
However, he explained that further discussions involving the District Office, the Sabah State Health Department and other relevant agencies are still required to finalise the project’s implementation.
“At present, the project is still at the planning stage, but the land is available and development plans are being prepared.
“God willing, if everything proceeds smoothly, this development will have a significant impact on the local economy and improve the well-being of the people in Lumadan and Beaufort,” he said.
In another development, Ruslan said Lumadan will also be developed into one of Sabah’s modern agriculture and livestock hubs, given the area’s vast potential.
He said the district, particularly Lumadan, possesses extensive agricultural and livestock land that has yet to be fully utilised, presenting significant opportunities for development in the sector.
“In our previous election manifesto, we expressed our intention to make Lumadan an agriculture and livestock hub in Sabah, as the area has extensive land suitable for such activities, although some of it remains idle.
“If this potential is fully harnessed, we will not only be able to enhance food security in Sabah, but also generate economic growth and increase the income of local communities.
“This is because the agriculture sector remains relevant as one of the main drivers of the people’s economy, both in the past and present, and will continue to be strengthened through modern approaches and continuous government support,” he said.
