Entri: Developing Marudi fully requires a lot of time and money
KUCHING: To fully develop a rural constituency such as Marudi requires a lot of time and money, said the area’s former assemblyman Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran.
In response to Marudi assemblyman and Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil’s recent statement of “inheriting a kingdom which is 15 to 20 years behind time”, Entri said the comment was unfair and seemed to question his credibility and integrity in serving Marudi folk as assemblyman from 1996.
“I would like to state clearly, without fear and favour, that Marudi had moved forward since I took over at that time until 2016. I never singled out how difficult it was for me to serve to move forward to bring rural infrastructure to Marudi, being a rural constituency.
“Did he notice and see that his own longhouse at Sungai Entulang, Bakong now has water, electricity, tar- sealed road and other facilities, compared to when I took over in 1996?
“What about other longhouses which he visited? Proudly I say that the foundations for the rural infrastructure in Marudi had been laid down by me.
“Now is his turn to carry out its implementation and supervision,” said Entri.
He also called on Penguang to focus on areas still lacking in the constituency.
“That should be the spirit of a good leader and a true state assemblyman instead of looking backwards,” he said.
“He should have understood that development depends on the availability of funds under the budget and that is how development is taking place.
“This means if any constituency is behind 15 to 20 years, it depends on the government’s budget.”