ENGKILILI, Feb 27: Areas under the opposition in Sarawak will not be devoid of development and progress.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas emphasised that this is because the state Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government has an inclusive policy.
“It is our policy under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to bring development and progress to all areas and in particular the rural areas,” he said when officiating at a development and management course for Village Security and Development Committees (JKKKs) at the community hall here today.
Even though Engkilili state constituency is under the opposition (Parti Sarawak Bersatu), Uggah pointed out that the state government had allocated a sum of RM4.26 million for rural transformation programmes for Engkilili this year.
“There are many other socio-economic and agricultural programmes and activities that we had brought about and will continue to bring to all areas.
“For exampled, the RM265 million Agriculture Facilitation Fund is meant to help oil palm or pepper farmers, including those here, to tide over the current low price of these commodities,” he explained.
All these policies, he said, were aimed at generating income and to uplift the people’s standard of living.
Even though Engkilili has no ‘bridge’ to the GPS government at present, he hoped that the people will vote for the GPS government in the coming state election for the sake of their future generation.
Uggah emphasised that the establishment of Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) and the recent allocation of RM50 million for longhouse loan programme were other examples of this inclusive policy.
“The Ministry of Housing and Local Government through its minister Datuk Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian had requested from Abang Johari a sum of RM50 million for the longhouse loan programme.
“Abang Johari had also set aside a sum of RM50 million this year to Unifor to enable it to help it all non-Islamic religions,” he said.
On the JKKK, Uggah urged them to do their parts to facilitate the implementation of development projects for the people.
“This should be more so now that the state government has allowed them to implement certain rural transformation projects by themselves.
“They should also bring up the people’s aspirations and needs to the attention of the government,” he added.
At the function, Uggah presented cheques for RM100,000 each from Unifor to the representatives of.
The Special Officer in the Chief Minister’s Department Lt-Gen (R) Datuk Stephen Mundaw, Sri Aman Resident Indit Bangai and political secretaries to the Chief Minister Dr Richard Rapu, Petrus Igat, Susan Anding and Micheal Tiang were among those present.
