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KUCHING, Aug 20: The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (MRRD) has given its approval for its integrated village economic development project programme or ‘PROSPEK’ (Projek Bersepadu Pembangunan Ekonomi Kampung), to be extended to Betong with a development budget of RM9 million.
Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas revealed this at a meet-the-people session at Rh Mendit Unsu in Penom in Spaoh today, according to a Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development (MIPD) Sarawak statement.
Uggah, who is also MIPD minister, stated that he put forward the request to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also MRRD minister, in July this year during a Hari Gawai Dayak gathering at Rh Enteri Lengkoi in Samu in Spaoh, where Zahid was the guest-of-honour.
“Together with his approval, he has allocated a development budget of RM9 million.
“A study will have to be undertaken first to identify the strategies and methods, as well as the relevant activities and programmes under PROSPEK here.
“This is another great opportunity for the people here to further benefit from the government development plans and programmes,” he said.
Uggah noted that Betong Division Development Agency (BDDA) was established to bring more development, progress, and prosperity.
“With PROSPEK coming in, this will certainly add to and complement what BDDA is undertaking.
“We will have more funds for development spending. But more importantly, we will benefit from strategies in developing the rural economy,” he added.
Furthermore, Uggah, who is also BDDA chairman, emphasised that the current priority in Betong is to increase the people’s income.
“We have the land and the area is huge. Now the people here are involved in oil palm and pepper cultivation plus livestock farming.
“We want to bring all these to a much higher level as we are eyeing the export markets,” he noted.
He also pointed out that the Betong Division is now the third place in Sarawak to enjoy PROSPEK presence, with the other two being in the Matu and Lawas Districts.
Also present at the event were Betong MP Dr Richard Rapu, political secretary to the Premier, Roseline Mapong Sabai, and other guests. — DayakDaily
