By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Nov 28: The Sarawak Secretary Office will study the proposal to elevate Sungai Asap sub-district into a full-fledged district.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said he will consult with the Office on its recommendations in terms of boundary and places which must be upgraded.
“In any district, standard infrastructure must go together with the district.
“I cannot say much but we will conduct a study according to a study which will be introduced by the Sarawak Secretary Office,” he said when speaking at a ‘Leaders with the People’ event at Lamin Adet Bangen Kimet Uma Baha, Sungai Asap, Belaga which was broadcast via a Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) YouTube livestream today.
Earlier, Murum incumbent Kennedy Chukpai Ugon in his speech said a proposal to elevate Sungai Asap into a full district has been forwarded to the Chief Minister’s Office via Kapit Resident Office and is pending approval.
“It is time for Sungai Asap to be recognised with a full district status with Tubau as the full district office administrative centre in line with Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and Sarawak Civil Service Action Plan Transformation Initiatives (SCS 10-20) with the objective of providing efficient services and increasing the level of accessibility for an effective system of connectivity.
“Development programmes and facilities will directly establish local socio-economic opportunities and prevent migration to the city,” he said.
The proposed elevation of Sungai Asap into a full district is among 10 requests brought forward to Abang Johari by Kennedy who is representing the local Orang Ulu community.
Among them is the long-time ongoing issue of an access road with an estimated length of 163km to 2,917 agricultural lots belonging to the residents of Bakun Resettlement Scheme (BRS) in Sungai Asap.
Kennedy explained that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) State government has allocated a total of RM95 million to complete 60km of the road so far.
“On behalf of the people, I wish to request additional allocation to complete the remaining 103km road with an estimated cost of RM260 million,” he said.
Other requests include more housing lots to cater to the increasing number of local residents, additional allocation of agricultural lots, waiver exemptions for water bill arrears of Sg Asap BRS residents, as well as additional allocations to build other infrastructure.
Amongst those present were Assistant Minister of Utilities (Rural Electricity)-cum-Belaga incumbent Datuk Liwan Lagang, Deputy State Secretary (Socio-Economic Transformation) Dato Sri Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Hulu Rajang MP Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong and Kapit Resident Nyurak Keti. – DayakDaily
