By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 3: The Sarawak government has approved an allocation of RM500 million to build a drainage scheme in Sri Aman, Samarahan and Kuching for rice crops next year.
According to a report by Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas), Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the decision was made during a meeting held earlier yesterday (July 2).
“This evening (July 2) we had a meeting and we have approved an allocation of RM500 million next year to create a drainage scheme in Sri Aman, Samarahan and Kuching.
“This does not include other large potential areas such as Limbang and Lawas and traditional small farms by the community,” he said when speaking at the Dayak Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) and Kadazandusun Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (KCCI) Gawai-Kaamatan Dinner held last night (July 2).
Abang Johari further said that he had initially requested the allocation from the Federal government, but until now he was still waiting for a response.
“When I said this area needed RM1 billion, the (Malaysia Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu) said it was too much. Then I told them why don’t we split it in two, I give RM500 million, you give RM500 million.
“Until today, we are still waiting but Sarawak has allocated RM500 million for this development,” he added.
Also present were Abang Johari’s wife Puan Sri Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang, Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Joachim Gunsalam, Malaysian Minister of Public Works Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi; Malaysian Minister of National Unity Dato Sri Aaron Ago Dagang, DCCI president Dato Allan Keripin Nangkai and KCCI president Datuk Ladislaus Maluda. — DayakDaily
