JAPAN AND CHINA OFFER EXPERTISE FOR BIMP-EAGA INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

KUCHING (Malaysia), Aug 11 (Bernama) -- Japan and China are willing to share
their expertise with members of the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East
Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) through smart partnership in infrastruture
development.

Housing Minister Abang Johari Openg said priority would be given to
infrastructure development which can have economic and social benefits to the
relevant countries.

"Member countries recently agreed in Brunei that new approaches must be
adopted when focusing on projects which have an economic and social impact on
the people besides infrastructure development," he told reporters after
attending a briefing on the Bengoh Dam here, the capital city of East Malaysia
state of Sarawak Tuesday.

Abang Johari represented Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud to the recent
Senior Officials Meeting and Ministerial Meeting which was held in Brunei
between Aug 5 and Aug 8.

At the meeting, he said member countries also discussed efforts to link the
BIMP-EAGA with the Asean Mekong Basin Development Cooperation.

On his visit to the Bangoh Dam in Jalan Puncak Borneo, Abang Johari said the
ministry had agreed to build 200 public housing units for residents affected by
the project.

"We will ensure every resident receives one housing unit in the new housing
area," he said.

The Bengoh dam, expected to be completed by end 2010, would supply clean
water to almost two million people in Kuching city beginning 2030.

The RM310 million project, scheduled for completion in December 2010, is now
34.56 per cent complete. (US$1=RM3.50)
--BERNAMA