By William Isau
SELANGAU, July 6: Rascom Development Agency (Rada) will be set up in Tamin and Ngemah State constituencies, says Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira Sambang.
Speaking at a Ngiling Bidai-cum-Minor Rural Project (MRP) fund presentation ceremony at Rumah Eding Kiroh, Ulu Dijih here, he said the State government has consented to the matter.
According to him, he had proposed the development agency during the recent State Legislative Assembly (DUN) session.
“Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has already agreed to the proposal with Deputy Health Minister II and Kanowit Member of Parliament Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang as the Protem Chairman of Rada,” said Gira.
He said the Rada development package would bring various types of infrastructure development, economic and social sectors to the people in the area.
“The purpose of setting up Rada is to recognise the effort of the people in the affected areas who had fought alongside the State government and Malaysia during the communist insurgency in the Ulu Sungai Oya, Ulu Sungai Kabah-Tada and Ulu Sungai Ngemah areas in the 1970s,” he said.
He recalled that during the communist insurgency, the people in the area have cooperated fully and agreed to leave their homes, land and gardens in the upstream area, to move to the Rajang Security Command (Rascom) resettlement in the Nanga Ngungun Resettlement Scheme, Nanga Tada Resettlement Scheme in Kanowit and the Sekuau Resettlement Scheme in Selangau.
According to Gira, the relocation process to the Rascom settlements has caused many difficulties for the families involved and affected their economic activities.
Therefore, he stressed, it is appropriate for the people in the settlement areas to be shown appreciation and given priority in various developments.
He added, although the former Rascom area will be the focus of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government’s development, but as the elected representative of the Tamin state constituency, he will continue to work hard with the people in the area to meet the needs and wants of the people in rural areas, especially in Ulu Sungai Balingian, Mukah, Oya and Pasai.
With that, Gira said, infrastructure, economic and social development would be his main focus as he works to solve and improve electricity and clean water supply, repair dilapidated schools and build roads for longhouses in rural areas.
During the same ceremony, Gira presented MRP funds amounting to RM260,000 to 23 longhouse development and security committees in the Tamin state constituency.
Also present were Selangau District Officer Inting Nyami and Penghulu Andrewson Ngalai. — DayakDaily
