Most want SRDC be relocated to Sibu Jaya – Chairman

SIBU: Most people apparently want Sibu Rural District Council to have its administrative building sited in either Selangau or Sibu Jaya, says its chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai.

He said this in response to Sibu MP Oscar Ling’s advice against having the administrative building in Sibu Jaya which he said was too far from Sibu town proper.

Ling was quoted by newspapers as suggesting it would inconvenience villagers on the west bank if the building were to be based in Sibu Jaya.

“Many SRDC staff are living in Sibu town proper,” he had said.

Sempurai, however, said the matter ought to be looked at from all angles, adding that areas under SRDC encompassed six constituencies, namely Dudong, Tamin, part of Nangka, Bukit Assek, Kakus and Bawang Assan.

“It is rather unfair to say that Sibu Jaya is far and inconvenient for villagers on the opposite bank (west bank) to get the services from SRDC when almost all counter services are available at the Urban Transformation Centre ( UTC) counter. Our office at Sanyan Building is merely serving as an administration office.

“Most people including residents of SRDC areas have suggested that SRDC should relocate its office to either Selangau or SibuJaya which are two major townships under the council. Currently, we are like a government based in another country,” he said.

Sempurai added that the proposed construction of the SRDC administrative building was still at the planning stage, which would take some time to complete.

“Don’t chase the mosquito when it is still outside your mosquito net.

“On the issue of inconvenience to the staff I can tell you that quite a number of SRDC staff live in Sibu Jaya currently. Is it inconvenient for them to come down to Sanyan Building in Sibu town proper?

“Sibu Jaya and Sibu are not that far apart. In fact, with the completion of the Pan Borneo Highway, it will be very convenient for us to go to the airport, Sibu Jaya and back to town,” he said.