Palm oil, electronics factories on interior people’s wish list

KENINGAU: The establishment of a palm oil processing factory and electronics factory is among the people’s aspirations in the Upper Interior during a dialogue session of the National Transformation 2050 (TN50) at the community hall here on Monday.

Various parties expressed their aspirations for the establishment of these factories which they hoped could provide employment opportunities for the locals in this area.

The dialogue was told that these factories could stop the people from migrating to the peninsula to seek employment.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Dri Joseph Kurup acted as the dialogue session facilitator.

In addition, security, public transport, health, basic infrastructure, education, youth development and many others were also raised by some of the 500 people who attended the dialogue session.

It was the intention of the government to hold the dialogue for TN50 so that the people would have the chance to speak out their aspirations, Kurup said after the dialogue.

He said the establishment of factories in the Upper Interior was needed to enable the people to get jobs and increase their income.

“I’m very interested in this session which is very effective where various groups representing the youth, community leaders and government officials from districts in the Upper Interior could voice their aspirations for development.

Kurup, who is also Pensiangan member of parliament, said in fact this (setting up of factories) was the wish of the people here in the next 30 years so that they would also taste progress and be on par with those in the peninsula.

He said basic amenities such as clean water and electricity and better education were still the demand of the people here.

“We hope that all the national leadership would listen to the aspirations of the people which expected to be realized in the next 30 years,” he said.

“I believe when Prime Minister asks us to make an event like this (dialogue TN50) he wants to hear, and then he will deliver according to people’s wishes,” he said.

The TN50 dialogue session was chaired by Keningau Umno Youth chief Nik Nazri Nik Zawawi as moderator and organized by the Keningau Federal Youth and Sports Department in collaboration with the District Office.

Tenom member of parliament Datuk Raime Unggi, District Officer Haji Yusof Haji Osman, Tambunan District Officer Thomas Logijin, Tenom District Officer Madiyem Layapan, Sook Assistant District Officer Virus Malatiam, Pagalungan Assistant District Officer Aloysius Anthony and Kemabong Assistant District officer Jasli Tindi were among those present.