Ministry to study request for affordable housing in Long Lama

Dr Sim (front row, yellow shirt), Dennis (on Dr Sim's left) and others pose for a group photo during the charity event in Long Lama today (Nov 22, 2020).

By Brad Rantayy

MIRI, 22 Nov: The Ministry for Local Government and Housing will look into Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau’s request to build affordable housing in Long Lama, to meet the growing needs of its residents.

This was disclosed by its minister Datuk Seri Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian here today during the Miri Che Lee Khor Moral Uplifting Society charity goodies giveaway to 220 of the less fortunate from eight Long Lama villages.

Each recipient received a hamper of goodies worth RM100 and RM50 cash.

“I will ask the Sarawak Housing Development Corporation (HDC) to start planning ahead (for the purpose of building affordable housing in Long Lama),” Dr Sim said.

His remarks came in response to Dennis’s request for affordable housing in Long Lama ,taking into consideration that the town’s population is growing and in view of improved road access linking the town to Miri and Marudi.

Dennis pointed out that under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), more access roads have been built to rural and remote villages.

“This reflects the state government’s commitment to bring development to the people, unlike the 22-month (Pakatan Harapan) government, whereby many mega (development) projects were slashed by the federal government at that time,” he added.

He noted that as a growing town, Long Lama has the potential to go further in the future.

“I am confident (this is possible), with the implementation of the Sarawak Link Road, as it will help to boost the Long Lama tourism sector,” he pointed out.

Earlier on, Dennis also proposed that the Long Lama clinic to be upgraded to a hospital, in order to cater to growing local demand.

“The need of the health service is increase, I believed if Long Lama clinic upgraded to Hospital status, the people here and its surrounding area will have no longer drive far away to Miri in case of emergency,” said Dennis.

During today’s programme, Sim also presented RM10,000 each to SJK(C) Kee Tee Long Lama and Miri Che Lee Khor Moral Uplifting Society.

Miri Che Lee Khor Moral Uplifting Society also contributed RM3,000 in cash, 200 boxes of face masks to the school. It presented another 200 boxes of face masks to SK Ubong Imang, Long Lama.

Among those present were Miri Che Lee Khor Moral Uplifting Society president Tony Pui, Penghulu Desmond Yap and Telang Usan District officer Baru Tai. — DayakDaily