KANOWIT: The Ngemah Development Area Plan (NDA) will be established under the Ulu Rajang Development Agency (URDA) to further accelerate development in the area. Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg said the NDA would play a role in provinding greater access to agriculture, infrastructure, electricity, water and more. “In the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), the state government will provide additional funding to URDA for that purpose,” he said when launching Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Zone 11B (Kanowit, Ngemah and Machan) Roadshow. Johari, who is the GPS president, also launched the Kanowit District Infrastructure Development Projects which included the Ngungun-Jagau Road, Gremai Road, Machan Bridge, Kanowit Substation, Rajang Riverbank, Kanowit Riverbank, Agriculture Substation Machan, Fort Emma, Kanowit Ferry, and Water Supply Kanowit Phase II. Present at the event were GPS vice-president Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and secretary Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi, Sarawak People’s Party (PRS) president Tan Sri James Masing, Democratic Progressive Party (PDP) president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, United People’s Party vice-president Sarawak (SUPP) Datuk Ding Kuong Hing and other dignitaries. About 5,000 party members from the region attended the event. Without disclosing the amount of the additional allocation, Johari said the NDA would accelerate development in Ngemah area. “Kanowit has land but not enough development, so we have this body to ensure whatever development in Ngemah is planned properly,” he added. Meanwhile, Johari said the Kanowit district had a bright future after the state government via GPS had approved several infrastructure projects for the benefit of its residents.