Bukit Goram lagging in ICT facilities – Jamit
MOST areas in Bukit Goram are still without cellular phone service and Wi-Fi connection despite the state government’s focus on the development of digital economy.
As such, the constituency is lagging behind in terms of information communication technology ( ICT) facilities, Jefferson Jamit Unyat ( BN-Bukit Goram) said.
“Especially in the rural areas, there is low signal and most (areas) have no coverage for cellular phone service and also the Wi-Fi service,” he said when debating the budget speech in the august House yesterday.
Jamit thus called on the government to erect more telecommunication (telco) towers to provide better telco services in areas such as Sg Menuan, Sg Belawai, Sg Ibau, Sg Melipis, Ulu Yong and along the Batang Rajang.
On another subject, he said many households in the suburban areas in his constituency which had been connected by road “are yet to receive clean, treated and safe water supply”.
He hoped that the government would take this matter seriously so that suburban folk could have access to treated water.
He also pointed out that most longhouses in Bukit Goram “are yet to enjoy 24-hour supply of electricity”.
“Greater effort needs to be done so that they can be connected to the state grid to enable them to enjoy electricity supply without interruption,” he quipped.
He thanked the chief minister for allocating RM223 million for the implementation of various projects for smallholders and farmers in rural areas under Budget 2018.
He requested the government to provide more funding for agriculture development in his constituency.
“The topographical features of the hinterland of my rural constituency make it suitable for large scale plantation and farming such as rubber, pepper and other suitable cash crops such as dabai, pineapple, cocoa, vegetables and other crops including herbs.”
According to him, many longhouses in Bukit Goram especially on the opposite side of the Rajang River are yet to have road. The areas include Sg Menuan, Sg Belawai and Sg Ibau.
He was thus grateful that the chief minister had approved the construction of a road for Sg Menuan and Sg Ibau.
“I would like to find out the current status of the road development project in those two areas. Similarly, I would like to know the status of the proposed upgrading of Kapit Town Square and Lily Pond,” he added.