KUCHING, Feb 25: Habitat for Indigenous and Urban Programme (Hidup) urges the federal and Sarawak governments to engage and consult with stakeholders at the grassroots level to identify and prioritise areas, including communities, that need development.
In a statement, its chairman, George Young Si Ricord Jr, said this is to ensure that the RM5.6 billion allocated to Sarawak under the revised Budget 2023 is spent wisely to bring benefit and value to Sarawakians, especially in rural areas.
In welcoming the additional RM2.5 billion allocation dedicated to building roads and street lights and providing water and electricity, George also questioned whether the amount is sufficient because some Sarawakians have been denied such basic modern services for five decades.
For example, he said, the stretch of road from Jalan Puncak Borneo to Jalan Kerokong remains unlit at night and continues to be a safety hazard.
“The RM1.2 billion allocated to repair 400 dilapidated clinics and 380 schools, most of it in rural Sarawak, is a positive step. However, Hidup also has reservations about whether the amount allocated would be adequate to cover both clinics and schools,” he added.
He continued that Hidup also supports the IPR (Inisiatif Pendapatan Rakyat) programme worth RM750 million to empower the poor to increase their earning potential.
He said this includes the provision of loan facilities to support micro-entrepreneurs, women, and youths up to RM1.7 billion by Bank Simpanan Negara (BSN), Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), and the Tekun group would hopefully stimulate entrepreneurship at the grassroots and community level and energise the local economy.
“Hidup would like to see this happening in rural Sarawak communities to develop and sustain vibrant local economies that provide employment and opportunities, food security, as well as improvement in the standard of living.
“Overall, Hidup views the budget as a people-friendly budget with a wider range of programmes and initiatives to help the rakyat, especially those in the low-income bracket, improve their earnings and standard of living,” he said. — DayakDaily
