KUCHING, Aug 2: The Sarawak government will use its own allocation to finance the implementation of projects under the Rajang Delta Development Agency (RADDA).
According to the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas), Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration, and Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh stated that his side did not need to apply or request that the project be implemented as long as all of his committees agreed.
“This project is fully funded by the State government, not the Federal government, and we do not need to apply or request that it be implemented; as long as all members of the committee agree, it will be implemented immediately.
“That is the approach, or fast track, in implementing projects for the benefit of the people,” he said yesterday at a press conference of the RADDA Lab in Sibu.
In response to the establishment of various development agencies in the state, Len Talif explained that Sarawak is a vast area with its own distinct characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses.
He mentioned that RADDA will concentrate more on identifying specific programmes to meet the needs of specific areas.
“At RADDA, we identify our strengths and weaknesses by conducting a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis. Then, we prescribe a solution for the identified weaknesses.
“As a result, we established so many agencies so that they could concentrate on their respective strengths and weaknesses. That is the reasoning behind this agency,” he added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister in the Premier of Sarawak Department (Corporate Affairs and Ukas) Datuk Abdullah Saidol noted that RADDA played a role in bridging the development gap between urban and rural areas.
Furthermore, RADDA focuses on strengthening the socioeconomics of each area under its jurisdiction that can be developed.
“We cannot develop rural areas using traditional methods. That is why organisations like this exist.
“I don’t think other States have an agency like this that works to bridge the development gap between rural and urban areas,” Abdullah pointed out.
Also present were Pakan assemblyman Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom, Meradong assemblyman Datuk Ding Kuong Hiing, and Meluan assemblyman Roland Duat Jubin. — DayakDaily
