Be receptive to changes to move forward, rural communities advised

KAPIT: Education remains the most viable means for communities, especially those in the rural areas, to move forward and achieve progress.

In this regard, Katibas assemblyman Datuk Ambrose Blikau Enturan said there is a need for a change of mindset to make this possible.

“In this modern era, we are facing new challenges and thus, we must be receptive to changes; otherwise, we would be left behind. The only way for us to move forward is through education – knowledge is our asset.

“Hence, we need to focus on our children’s education,” he spoke at the triennial general meeting at Song community hall on Monday, which gathered members of various Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu ( PBB) sub- branches across Katibas constituency and also Batang Rajang areas. These PBB units also included those in Song Bazaar, Temalat, Sungai Iran, Beguang, Sungai Song and Embuau.

The meeting for the sub-branches was held in preparation for the coming TGM for PBB Katibas. It was also meant to select members from the sub-branches to attend the PBB Katibas TGM.

Earlier, Blikau attended the TGM for various PBB units across Central Katibas, which was held at Rumah Garai at Nanga Tekalit.

On future development of the district, Blikau said the Lajan and Embuau areas would be connected with the state power grid by next year, whereas the longhouse folk living along Jalan Song-Temalat and Jalan Takan had been included under the Rural Electrification Scheme ( RES).

“For the rural communities at the upper reaches of Sungai Song, Ulu Manap and Sungai Iran, where the implementation of the state power grid would not be possible in the next 10 to 20 years, their areas have been earmarked either for Sarawak Alternatives Rural Electrification Supply ( Sares) or solar hybrid projects.”

Blikau added that the setting up of the Upper Rajang Development Agency ( Urda) would further enhance the development of areas in the central and upper Rajang, focusing on road development.

Meanwhile, the Monday TGM passed the resolution of giving full support to Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi to be renominated as the Barisan nasional ( BN) candidate for Kapit in the next parliamentary election, as well as recommendation for him to be given a full federal minister post.

Another resolution was the call for the government to provide more road access into the rural areas across Katibas.