Residents of Rh Alo Riang enjoy electricity through RES
MIRI: Residents of Rh Alo Riang in Ulu Suai Niah are now a happy lot after their longhouse is supplied with 24-hour electricity following the completion of a RM1.4-million electricity supply project under the Rural Electrification Scheme ( RES).
The Iban longhouse has over 20 households comprising more than 80 residents.
Tuai Rumah Alo Riang thanked Sarawak Energy Berhad, the Sarawak government and Minister of Utilities Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi for solving their electricity woes.
“Our financial burden is now lifted as we got to enjoy 24-hour affordable electricity,” the 66-yearold headman said when met after a ceremony to officiate the RES project here yesterday.
The rural residents are mostly involved in the planting of oil palm.
Another villager, Christina Nora, 50, said prior to the completion of the RES project in the village in October last year, each unit in the longhouse had to spend around RM300 a month on diesel to run their generator to produce electricity.
“Now, we are delighted to enjoy affordable electricity and it certainly has led to changing lifestyle of the villagers,” she said.
Meanwhile, Rosmi Munjan said the RES project was a life changer for her and family.
Before the RES project, Rosmi said the villagers had to endure being in the dark after sundown.
“Now, day and night, we can simply turn on the switch to light up our houses.
“With 24-hour electricity the children can now revise their school work at night while the womenfolk can continue with their creative and design works,” she said, adding that the supply of electricity also eased them in doing their routine housekeeping activities.
“This project proves that the Sarawak government is concerned about the needs of the rural people,” she added.
The electricity supply was declared open by Dr Rundi.
It is one of the seven RES projects which have been completed thus far for Subis district, benefitting 187 households with a total cost of over RM11 million.
Ministry of Utilities director Syed Fauzi Shahab, Sarawak Energy vice president for rural electrification Dr Chen Shiun and representatives from relevant agencies and community leaders were present at the ceremony.