KUCHING, Oct 26: The Sarawak government has allocated a total of RM2.37 billion to implement 188 rural electricity supply projects through various schemes throughout the State.
Utility and Telecommunication (MUT) Sarawak Minister Datuk Julaihi Narawi said that in order to ease the burden on rural communities, the State government has also introduced an initiative called the Additional or Late Application Fund (ALAF), Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) reported.
According to Julaihi, ALAF is fully borne by the Sarawak government through MUT Sarawak and Sarawak Energy Berhad (Sarawak Energy) as the project’s implementing agency.
“Since its introduction in 2018, a total of RM230 million has been allocated to implement the ALAF project involving 20,713 households.
“A total of 14,348 households have been fully completed, 5,366 households are still in various stages of implementation, and 999 households are in the survey stage.
“To ensure that the people of Sarawak can continue to enjoy 24-hour electricity supply, an additional allocation of RM85 million has been requested to implement the ALAF project for another 5,115 households with a target of project completion by 2025,” he noted during the inauguration of the ALAF Scheme Project at Rumah Danggang in Bintulu today.
In addition, Julaihi stated that the electricity connection at Rumah Danggang was completed in 2020 under the ALAF Scheme at a cost of RM116,300, with 29 households benefiting from the project’s electricity supply.
The MUT Sarawak minister also highlighted that a total of RM7.29 million in implementation costs had been spent for Jepak constituency to implement the people’s project involving 397 households to ensure that residents enjoyed electricity supply to their respective homes.
Julaihi was quoted by Ukas as saying: “The implementation of projects under the ALAF Scheme involves a total of 31 projects with 431 households, 21 projects with 273 households have been fully completed, while nine projects with 158 households are in various stages of implementation.
“All households that are currently being implemented are expected to get electricity supply in stages starting in 2024.”
Also present were MUT Sarawak deputy minister Datuk Liwan Lagang, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidate for Jepak constituency, Iskandar Turkee, Tuai Rumah Daggang, and other guests. — DayakDaily
