Media Statement By YB Chong Chieng Jen:
I refer to the above matter.
I have received numerous requests from the business sectors and the residents in and around 10th Mile Bazaar Kuching for BSN or any other commercial bank to set up a branch in the Bazaar to facilitate banking transactions.
For your information, at the moment, there is not a single bank operating a branch in Kuching 10th Mile Bazaar.
The 10th Mile Bazaar is a fast-developing area in Kuching. In fact, the head office of the Majlis Perbandaran Padawan is situated in the 10th Mile Bazaar, surrounded by approximately 300 shophouses and flanked by the 10th Mile Market and a SJKC with of more than 1,500 students. There is also a light industrial zone nearby. In the last few years, many housing estates were developed in the nearby area.
Many years ago, there was a BSN branch in the Bazaar but it was closed down. Since then, the traders, hawkers and residents in the 10th Mile Bazaar and all the villagers nearby were put to great inconvenience when it comes to doing banking transactions.
The nearest bank is situated at the Kuching 7th Mile Bazaar. Though the distance may not seem far between 7th Mile to 10th Mile, but the traffic jam is horrendous and during peak hour, it may take more than half an hour to travel one-way from 10th Mile to 7th Mile and the lack of parking spaces at the 7th Mile Bazaar makes matter worse.
Given the demography and the growing economic activities in the area, I strongly believe that the 10th Mile Bazaar has now developed sufficiently for BSN or any other banks to set up a branch there.
Even if such a move may not be commercially viable (which I do not think so), I hope BSN or any bank will look upon it as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project.
In the premises, on behalf of those living and trading nearby 10th Mile Bazaar, I hope your good office will impress upon BSN or any other bank to set up an branch in the 10th Mile Bazaar.
Thank you for your kind attention and prompt action herein. We look forward to hearing favourably from you soon.
