Dr Sim leads delegation to Manchester in UK to study housing, urban renewal models
KUCHING (April 28): A Sarawak delegation led by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian is currently in Manchester, United Kingdom, on a working visit focused on housing and urban regeneration.
Dr Sim, who is also Minister for Public Health, Housing, and Local Government, shared in a Facebook post that Sarawak needs to plan ahead to meet growing demands for public housing and public transportation as part of its broader nation-building efforts.
He explained that the government is making progress towards achieving economic prosperity, inclusivity, and environmental sustainability goals under Sarawak's Post Covis-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
'For the 13th Malaysia Plan (2026-2030), the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) Sarawak is proposing to raise the target for affordable housing from the previous 3,000 units to 20,000 units. Such targets will require teamwork from different government agencies as well as private and public partnership,' he stated in the Facebook post.
Apart from deputy ministers and officials from Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government (MPHLG) Sarawak, members of the delegation also comprised representatives from the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) Sarawak, Sarawak Planning Authority (SPA), Land & Survey Department Sarawak, Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA) Sarawak dan Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers' Association (SHEDA).
They visited the Urban Regeneration of New Islington in Ancoats, Manchester, where a former industrial site was transformed into affordable council housing, green spaces and enhanced connectivity (canal, public transport) with a vibrant, sustainable community.
They were also briefed on the Hulme Crescents Redevelopment Project, which Dr Sim described as another prime example of urban renewal that integrates public affordable housing within a planned, sustainable community framework.
Additionally, the delegation visited Heaton Park in Manchester, one of the largest municipal parks in Europe, spanning approximately 600 acres. Dr Sim Kui Hian housing urban regeneration working visit
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