By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Feb 15: It is no exaggeration to say that some elected representatives from Sarawak and Sabah still need to trek over hills, traverse rivers and travel in 4WD vehicles through logging roads or even take a plane or helicopter to get to a longhouse or settlement in the interior in order to serve their constituents.
Speaking about these geographical challenges travelling in the Borneo region, Selangau MP Edwin Banta expressed hope that the federal allocation for each elected representative will take into account the respective Parliament constituency’s condition, size and total population, given the high cost of transportation and logistics involved.
“The sustainable living and wellbeing of a community is highly dependent on access to basic facilities including infrastructure, electricity supply and clean water.
“We must admit that it is not easy to provide comprehensive and adequate basic facilities to every nook and cranny of the rural areas, especially in Sarawak whose populations are scattered throughout in villages and longhouses.
“However, as a representative of an area that is not only vast like Selangau where accessibility is very challenging, even the expenditure to visit the area alone is pressing enough.
“It is no joke when I say ‘tolak kuda dan unta’ (push horse and camel)… just to get to a longhouse or settlement in rural Selangau,” he said when debating the Royal Address in Parliament, Kuala Lumpur today.
On a related issue, Edwin emphasised that there are still areas in Sarawak still lacking access to clean water supply including Selangau where the delay in rolling out water treatment plants in Sekuau and Tatau is burdening the people.
“The representatives of the area had to even supply bottled drinking water to a primary school, SK Kelawit in Tatau, to aid JKR (Public Works Department) in its efforts to deliver water through tankers.
“There are projects that have been announced or approved many years ago, but are still not ready until today. The difficulties and complications faced by the people have been brought to the Sarawak Legislative Assembly and Parliament, but there is still no end to it,” he added. — DayakDaily
