GPS continues with rural devt agenda — Meluan rep
SARIKEI: The Gabungan Parti Sarawak ( GPS) -led government will continue to accord priority towards improving the living standard of rural Sarawakians under its development agenda.
In this respect, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg never stops reminding all the elected representatives from the ruling coalition to always go to the ground not only to take note of the people’s needs and problems, but also to address them, says Meluan assemblyman Rolland Duat Jubin.
According to him, the chief minister has provided the GPS elected representatives with substantial amounts of allocation under their respective Rural Transformation Programme ( RTP) and Minor Rural Project ( MRP) grants, to implement projects for the benefit of their constituents.
Citing the just- completed suspension bridge at Rumah Gani Dingun in Julau as an example, Rolland said the RM250,000 project was funded under his RTP grant for last year.
“There would be more projects meant to benefit of the rural folk in Meluan constituency and these would be implemented using my upcoming RTP grant.
“On the top priority list are the provision of electricity supply either from the state grid or Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrification Scheme ( sares), and also treated water supply either from the state water grid or Sarawak Alternative Water Supply (Sawas),” he told reporters after declaring open the new suspension bridge at Rumah Gani in Wong Bar near Julau town last weekend.
Additionally, Rolland said he had also requested for the implementation of tar- sealed roads to link together all areas across Meluan, citing the approved RM50-million Ulu Mujuk Road project as an example.
“Although the top priority is on the provision of basic infrastructure, utilities and amenities, I would continue to give due attention toward other areas,” he said, listing education as one of these ‘other areas’.
In this respect, he said he had allocated every school in Meluan with a fair share from his MRP fund, apart from a substantial sum to be given as incentives to encourage students to strive for educational excellence.
Rolland also prioritised the empowerment of his women constituents, as seen from his allocation of RM300,000 for the setting-up of women’s bureau in every longhouse across Meluan.
Later, the assemblyman announced an allocation of RM3,000 for the women’s bureau of Rumah Gani and as requested by the longhouse chieftain Gani Dingun, he (Rolland) also assured the villagers that he would provide them with funds for repair works on the longhouse.