KUCHING, Feb 21: A group of community leaders in Balai Ringin have expressed their profound dismay and unhappiness at the constituency not being included in the newly-formed Greater Kuching Coordinated Development Agency (GKCDA).
The group comprised Serian Temenggong for Iban community Harrison Lunsa, Balai Ringin Penghulu Pelie Jumbu, Kampung Melayu Balai Ringin village chief (KK) Mohd Idris Manap and Kampung Sepan’s Tuai Rumah Lama Bongkol.
GKCDA presently stretches across nine Sarawak constituencies of Tanjung Datu, Opar, Tasik Biru, Serembu, Mambong, Tarat, Tebedu, Bukit Simuja and Kedup with the aim of developing the predominantly Bidayuh areas in Lundu, Bau and Serian.
According to Harrison, he was disappointed because although the Balai Ringin constituency is predominantly Iban, it should not be excluded from being part of the development agency.
“Almost every race such as Bidayuh, Iban, Malay, Chinese, Remun and Orang Ulu can be found living in the Balai Ringin constituency.
“To have the agency approaching our development agenda based on racial or communal integration is not a good practice. It should be discouraged and avoided at all costs,” he said in a joint statement today.
Pelie also voiced his strong dissatisfaction, stating that Balai Ringin constituency comes under three administrative centres namely Serian, Sri Aman and Simunjan.
He further said there are more than 100 kampung registered under the Balai Ringin sub-district which are also in the Division of Serian.
“If Balai Ringin is excluded (from GKCDA), it means the local folk are deprived of this fair share of the incoming development. We don’t wish to be sidelined. It was just unfortunate that the constituency are made up within three administrative centre Serian, Sri Aman and Simunjan,” he said.
At the same time, Idris and Lama mentioned that previously when Serian had requested to be elevated to division status, Balai Ringin villages were included to make up the quota but now when Serian is a division and GKCDA is set up, the villages were excluded.
The statement also pointed out GKCDA has been allocated a sum of RM1.5 billion to fund Sarawak government projects. It urged the government to the let the people of Balai Ringin regardless of race, benefit from these government projects too. — DayakDaily
