砂拉越总理阿邦佐哈里日前透露，将耗资十亿令吉重建诗巫市中心，引起各方议论，为此砂州公共卫生、房屋及地方政府副部长程明智解释，计划重点为基础的水管理系统。

阿邦佐哈里日前仅透露，此计划将从明年开始，预计2035年结束，但毫无细节内容，让许多砂州市民感到疑惑，为此程明智接受《透视大马》访问时，作出以上解释。

他指出，诗巫多年来持续尝试城市提升计划，其历史可以追溯到1862年，拉惹詹姆斯布洛克，在拉让河与伊甘河的交汇处，建造一座堡垒，以免受外来侵略者的袭击。 

“由于当时建在沼泽土壤，城镇规划和工程师都无法解决，因此这也是如今问题的关键。”

“当我们谈论重建诗巫时，过去几十年面对的问题，就是泥炭土、低洼地区和洪水问题等，毕竟我们位于沼泽地区。”

“因此，重建诗巫意味着不仅要自我升级，成为现代化的大都市，最重要的是，我们必须解决重建计划里的沼泽土壤问题。”

程明智认为，城市规划和工程师需要借鉴荷兰、丹麦和新加坡的经验，制定一个“全面、现代化，和高效的水管理系统”。

他补充，州政府将引进这些国家的专家，提供咨询和技术支持。

“在我们谈论新的诗巫大都市之前，必须先处理好灌溉和水管理系统，这也是重建诗巫的意义。”

他透露，此重建计划也隶属“武吉阿瑟重建计划”的一部分，因为武吉阿瑟正是诗巫的中心地带。

“由于诗巫位于砂拉越的中心位置，以及马来西亚最长河流，拉让江的沿岸，使诗巫成为砂拉越内陆和海岸之间，运输货物的理想贸易枢纽。”

早期的诗巫，拉让江沿岸交易的商品有橡胶、木材和胡椒。

当时，在当地开垦的橡胶园推动了该镇的发展。不过，一直到后来经历木材工业发展，诗巫的经济才在20世纪初真正繁荣起来。

木材开采和出口是主要的经济活动，诗巫是木材加工和运输的中心点。

程明智说，由于其作为贸易中心的重要性，诗巫的交通四通八达，与拉让河沿岸至少13个城镇相连。

“诗巫位于中心位置，也可以成为高等教育、贸易和医疗中心。”

他说，由于诗巫与拉让河流域的小城镇相连，因此它在支持小城镇的农村发展方面发挥着至关重要的作用。

“这些小城镇对诗巫的经济也非常重要。”

A resident, Eddy Puah, who described himself as “a Sibu born and bred fella” and had spent most of his 54 years in the town, said he is thankful and grateful the premier is leading the restructuring drive.

“The inner city - the Bukit Assek area - is sinking faster than Jakarta. If you expect the developers to come in on their own, it’s going be a long long wait.”

He said without the desired return of investment, “it simply doesn’t make any sense for any developer wanting to jump in and re-develop the said area”.

Puah pointed out that two decades ago, then chairman of Sibu Municipal Council Robert Lau was already championing for Sibu’s urban re-generation.

“His plan was premised upon the private sector’s massive leap of faith in redeveloping areas that were sunken and also the creation of a massive lake to retain the water table.”

But alas, Puah said, it did not take off because the private sector did not take it up.

Abang Johari’s restructuring, he added, would be a renaissance of sorts for Sibu

“One that is badly needed if we are to move ahead with the time. The spark that will lead to other sparks which will light up Sibu so that we will prosper too.

“I look forward to it with excitement. I also really really wished Sibu folks would not be individualistic and to come together for the betterment of our own home town.”

Puah said he is prepared to put up with the inconvenience when the redevelopment work starts.

“I know it would not be done quickly. It could take decades.

“What is important is that at least now there is a starting point. This is what matters to me now.”

He said in the years to come, he expects work on the town’s drainage and flood mitigation projects to take off.

“Given the waterlogged nature of the town, addressing drainage and flood management is crucial. The Sibu flood mitigation master plan, which is ongoing, has proven to be highly effective.

“It needs to be continued to cover more areas. Constructing proper drainage systems, flood barriers, and levees can mitigate flooding risks and improve overall infrastructure resilience.”

He said he also expects the town’s transportation networks and infrastructure to improve.