‘Govt to reinforce KRTs for crime-free neighbourhood’
BETONG: The government will continue to enhance the roles played by members of the Neighbourhood Watch Commit tee ( KRT) through various programmes to ensure that their areas would be crimefree.
Deput y Ch i e f M i ni s t e r Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas believes that when a neighbourhood is crime- free, the residents would have more confidence in their surroundings and this would allow development and prosperity to take place.
“When it comes to development, the government has always been giving priority to the people. Under the ‘ Transformation Per formanc e and Service Del ivery’ programme, the government looks into at the welfare and security of the people so that they would not live in fear of any crime.
“The rural communities, in particular, wi l l face a lot of threats and challenges whenever development is coming to their area – some i r responsible quarters may come and take the opportunity to make themselves prosperous at the expense of the local,” he said before launching the ‘KRT Sarawak Enhancement Programme 2017’ at Dewan Panglima Rentap Betong here on Thursday night.
Uggah, who is also Modernisation of Agriculture and Rural Economy Minister, pointed out that KRTs could serve as the ‘safeguard’ against these ‘opportunists’.
“They ( KRTs) can be the eyes and ears for the local community. Moreover, they can also help the government explain to community leaders of various races on their roles.
“I know there is no salary involved in KRTs – all services renders are wholly voluntary,” he noted.
Uggah also reminded all KRT members that the threats would not just come in physical forms.
“There are tangible threats, and there are intangible ones – specifically, those that exist on the Internet. Although the Internet facilitates the speedy dissemination of messages and information to the people, it can – unfortunately – bring along the negative elements that could poison the minds of the people.”
Meanwhi le on a separate issue, Uggah – also Bukit Saban assemblyman – reminded the rural communities to solve and set t le issues regarding communal hunting and fishing amicably. In this regard, he said the onus would fall on the community leaders in helping to solve problems and grievances among their charges.
“If we are united, then we can solve whatever problems that we encounter together,” he said.
Assistant Minister for Local Government Datu Dr Pengguang Manggil, Deputy State Secretary ( Rural Transformation) Datu Jaul Samion and Betong Resident Friday Belik were among those present at the launch.