Telang Usan rep suggests categorising constituencies for RTP allocations

THE Sarawak government is urged to consider reviewing the allocation of the Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) by categorising constituencies into urban, semiurban and very rural.

In making this suggestion in his debate speech at the State Legislative Assembly here yesterday, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau said that constituencies under ‘very rural’ category should be given a slightly larger RTP allocation.

Although the current RM5million RTP allocation had helped very rural constituencies like Telang Usan and Mulu in many ways, he said much more needed to be done as requests for basic infrastructure and amenities kept on coming from local community leaders.

“As of today, the allocation to an ‘ulu’ constituency could be considered as out of date due to the increase in cost, limiting the number of projects we could implement in a year.

“I have the belief that this suggestion to review RTP allocation will augur well with the Premier’s and the state government’s desire to develop Sarawak in total at a faster pace.

“I believe there is a ministry or an agency in the state that does have some kind of formula to identify and determine the constituencies to fall under which category,” he added.

Acknowledging that a sum of RM420 million had been allocated in the 2023 state budget for the continuation of RTP, he then expressed his gratitude to Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.