By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, May 7: Belaga constituency has been allocated RM314 million for infrastructure projects such as roads, electricity and water supplies, which are expected to be fully implemented in the next two to three years.
Belaga assemblyman Datuk Liwan Lagang revealed that all these allocations had been approved by the state government.
“In all, RM314 million has been approved for Belaga constituency by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg. I believed in what this CM is doing and in two-three years’ time when these projects are completed, those who accused him of being ‘hot air’ will eat their own words,” Liwan told DayakDaily at his office at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) here today.
Among the projects earmarked are the upgrading of the Mejawah-Belaga Road; water and electricity supplies for 10 longhouses along Mejawah-Belaga Road as well as road upgrading for Belaga-Jayong Road; and water and electricity supplies to Sekapan, which will be implemented through the Ulu Rejang Development Agency (Urda). It also includes the 11km road from Bakun Road to the new landing jetty in Bakun lake.
“He is the chief minister of every ethnic group, every rakyat in Sarawak, and he means it. All the development is well distributed throughout the state, including taking care of the most pertinent issues such as water and electricity.
“The chief minister also takes care of urban and rural areas, including a far-flung area such as Long Busang in Belaga district, which he visited recently and where he assisted in building the surau and a church for the Kenyah community. So, to me, he is the chief minister for everybody and every religion in Sarawak,” said Liwan, who is also Assistant Minister of Water Supplies.
Liwan, who is also the advisor of the Federation of Orang Ulu Associations of Sarawak, Malaysia (Forum), revealed that the chief minister had also approved RM25 million for the Orang Ulu community to build its cultural centre in Miri and another RM10 million for the Orang Ulu’s Chamber of Commerce.
Liwan, who is the only Orang Ulu member of the State Cabinet, hoped that another Orang Ulu, in the person of Works Minister Baru Bian, would also assist the development of the community.
“The Orang Ulu community is placing their hope on Works Minister Baru Bian, but till now, we have not seen anything yet from the federal government. YB Baru is a man of God and we are hoping that as a Minister of Works, he will do more for Sarawak, especially in the Orang Ulu areas, where many infrastructures are still lacking,” he lamented.
Meanwhile, Utilities Minister Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom told a press conference today that the RM5.2 billion for water and electricity supplies for the state was fully funded by the Sarawak government even though it was the responsibility of the federal government to provide the necessary funding for these utilities to Sarawakians.
“We have been begging even during the previous administration but the necessary funding never came. So, that’s why we have to use our own funding not that we want to show off but because our people have been waiting for far too long for such utilities,” he commented. — DayakDaily
