Budget 2019: Pena hopes infrastructure devt in rural areas will be given priority
MIRI: The Penan Empowerment Networking Association ( Pena) hoped that infrastructure development in the interior of Sarawak will be given priority in Budget 2019 which will be tabled tomorrow although the federal government is facing financial constraints.
Its chairperson Elia Bit said that development of infrastructure facilities such as telecommunications is still one of the main issues that need to be addressed by the government.
Telephone and Internet line in some areas need to be improved to facilitate and speed up communication-related matters for the rural population with the city. Elia Bit, chairperson
“Telephone and Internet line in some areas need to be improved to facilitate and speed up communication-related matters for the rural population with the city.
“For example at the clinic, sometimes the staff have trouble communicating promptly in case of an emergency or when referring patients to Miri Hospital.
“Penan village residents such as in Long Liwok, Long Latei and Long Kevok for example are communicating using walkie-talkies among themselves... for how long will they need to do so?” she asked when contacted by The Borneo Post here yesterday.
She hoped Budget 2019 will provide allocation for infrastructure improvement in schools.
“This includes replacing broken table and chairs, collapsed dormitory closets, torn mattresses, fragile school floors and outdated libraries.
“There are also input from the teachers to have a special allocation for traffic lights and road bumps in all schools, especially those by the roadside such as SMK Bakong, SMK Tinjar, SK Beluru and SK Long Lapok,” she added.
According to her, the Baram inland people are aware that allocation were given by the previous federal government but sometimes they did not reach those at the grassroots.
“Hence it is hoped that the new federal government led by Pakatan Harapan will monitor the implementation of projects under Budget 2019 which,” she said.
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng is scheduled to table Budget 2019 tomorrow at 4pm.