Service centre coming up in Ulu Merapok — Awg Tengah
LAWAS: The state government has approved the setup of a service centre with basic infrastructure and facilities to serve the communities in Ulu Merapok.
Resource Planning and Environment Second Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the centre would be built between Bukit Puan and Ulu Merapok mosque.
He said this when officiating at the opening of the Ulu Merapok Volleyball Open Championship at Kampung Bukit Puan near Sarawak- Sabah border, on Sunday.
Among the proposed facilities at the centre would be lock-up shops to encourage entrepreneurship, government offices and other basic infrastructure.
“The Land and Survey Department will draw up a new layout this year as the previous one is already outdated,” he said.
Awang Tengah, who is also Industrial Development Minister and Public Utilities Minister, said the government had also undertaken steps to link villages in Ulu Merapok to the district reticulation system for the supply of treated water.
Villages such as Bukit Puan currently rely on gravity- feed system for their water supply.
On the new school for Ulu Merapok, Awang Tengah said he had brought up the issue up with Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for it to be built soon.
Meanwhile, he announced an allocation of RM150,000 to Ulu Merapok Sports and Recreation Club to help them upgrade the open volleyball court with basic indoor facilities.
He commended the club for taking the initiative to organise the competition in Ulu Merapok, noting that the court which was located at the foot of the hill, was a boon to spectators perched on the hill when watching matches held there.
Earlier on, club chairman Azaman Saitin appealed to the minister to allocate funds for improving the infrastructure for the (volleyball) game as it was a popular sport in the region.
“Every day, there would be 30 to 40 players waiting patiently for their turn to play in this one court,” he said.
The club, buoyed by the success of attracting 35 teams in its inaugural competition including those from Sabah, plans to make it an annual event.
PNK and Reggis of Sabah emerged champions of the men and women categories, respectively.
Awang Tengah’s wife Datuk Dayang Morliah Awang Daud, Sindumin (Sabah) assemblyman Ahmad Bujang, community leaders and volleyball enthusiasts were among those present at the function.
The Land and Survey Department will draw up a new layout this year as the previous one is already outdated.
Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Second Resource Planning and Environment Minister