By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, April 20: It is high time that Auto-Teller Machines (ATM) and Cash Deposit Machines (CDM) be set up at the Bakun Resettlement Scheme (BRS), Sungai Asap township, opines Murum assemblyman Kennedy Chukpai Ugon.
He stressed that he had highlighted this need for quite some time as it would make it much easier for Sungai Asap residents who now number at least 20,000 to manage their finances.
“I would also like to urge the bank agency to expedite the setting up at least an ATM and a CDM kiosk at BRS Sungai Asap with a population of not less than 20,000 people as top priority as the nearest financial services are at Belaga town, which is located about 85km away, and in Bintulu, which is about 160km from Sungai Asap,” Kennedy disclosed to DayakDaily today.
He also welcomed the initiative taken by the National Security Council (NSC) to urge Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to mobilise bank agents to rural areas in Sarawak for the convenience of rural folks in getting their Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) cash aid.
Kennedy hoped that the relevant authorities will provide a long-term solution so residents can access financial services in Sungai Asap and other interior parts of Sarawak.
“Because of the lack of banking facilities here in Sungai Asap, the people face great challenges especially during this Movement Control Order (MCO),” he added. — DayakDaily
