Many conditions to fulfil before Sook can be elevated to full district — Kurup

KENINGAU: The plan of the opposition, especially DAP, to upgrade the Sook sub-district to a full-district is just rhetoric to gain support ahead of the upcoming 14th general election (GE14), reckons Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup.

According to Kurup, the leadership of Pensiangan BN has initiated the move to upgrade the sub-district status of Sook to a full district since the last few years.

“But, the government apparently has some conditions that must be fulfilled before they could declare it as a full district. Among the conditions that needed to be met is the income of the population, the size of the population, infrastructure facilities, such as banks, police station, fire station and others,” he explained to reporters after officiating at the dialogue with hawkers, handing over of disaster relief assistance and the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) at the Sook community hall here on Friday.

At the event, Kurup approved an allocation of RM5,000 to the Sook Bumiputera Hawkers and Petty Traders Association to assist in its management and activities.

Kurup, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, added the process to upgrade the sub-district was in progress, without specifying a time frame.

He said the people could see the construction of a fire station, a police station and a housing estate in the district.

In addition, Kurup, who is also the Pensiangan member of parliament, said, a road survey from Sinua to Tongod is in progress, and in the near future will be able to increase the economic sector in the Sook sub-district when it is ready.

“When the economy in this area increases, it will attract more people to stay here, and the community will also have ample job opportunities.

“The people should be able to discern and evaluate the many development projects undertaken by the Barisan Nasional government to facilitate the community in the rural areas.

“I am confident that the people in the Pensiangan parliamentary constituency will continue to support BN in GE14 and reject the opposition who are only good at raising the shortcomings of the government,” he said.