Association welcomes 99% clean water supply target
PITAS: The Pitas Rungus Association (Pisaan) welcomes the government's effort to provide clean water supply to 99 per cent of areas in Sabah and Sarawak.
Its president, Richard Mazagi, said with an allocation of RM470 million under the Rural Water Supply project, he is hoping more indigenous people in Sabah will benefit from it.
“In Pitas, there are a number of villages living without clean water supply, while some villages are having serious problem with water shortage.
“As one of the poorest districts in Sabah, I hope Pitas will be given proper attention, not only in water but also electricity and road development,” he said.
Following the announcement of RM1 billion for rural roads including RM326 million for Sabah, Richard said the focus in Sabah is really needed, especially with the neverending road problems haunting Sabahans for so long.
He said there are many sad stories which had happened in Pitas due to its road condition.
“Since Pitas is not fully connected by sealed roads, there are a number of cases where patients from Klinik Desa passed away on their way to the hospital.
“Often we heard pregnant mothers were forced to deliver their baby on the way to the hospital because of the bad road condition,” he said.
Sealed road is indeed important not only for medical purposes but will also contribute to economy development.
Richard is confident that with active agricultural activities in the interior their economy will develop fast if there is a proper road for them to transport their products to the nearby towns.
“With proper roads, our indigenous people from the interior will be able to market their crops.
“That is why I am hoping we will be able to receive more allocation to develop infrastructure, and with the budget announcements, we are looking at it as a light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.