KUCHING, May 11: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Women chief Kho Teck Wan asserts that while Sarawak Democratic Action Party’s (DAP) representatives can be seen criticising and actively posting on social media while visiting flooded areas during heavy rain, very little has been done to convey Sarawak’s need to the relevant authorities.
In a statement by Kho, she emphasised that in the meantime, Sarawak Deputy Premier Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian brought serious issues and a ‘heavyweight’ entourage with him during his courtesy visit to the Federal Minister for Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
“DAP’s visit to the Sarawak Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) a few days ago to discuss the Kuching flood mitigation project was attended only by Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen’s personal assistants and no other DAP people’s representatives were present during the meeting,” she added.
Meanwhile, Kho pointed out, Dr Sim’s courtesy visit was arranged by Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change, with the goal of discussing drainage and sewerage issues confronting Sarawak on Feb 9, 2023.
“Sarawak’s team led by Dr Sim brought up Sarawak DID’s delivery issues including the issuance of Notice of Change (NOC) for the Integrated River Basin Development Project (PLSB), as well as the RM150 million budget approved in 2018 for which cost had since increased after the Covid-19 (pandemic).
“The Deputy Premier’s team also brought up the Sarawak Sewerage Services delivery issues and conveyed Sarawak’s wish for coastal protection in the very near future in preparation for severe weather due to global climate change.
“Dr Sim highlighted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s statement where ‘Federal Government is fair and ‘adil’ to Sarawak’ during his courtesy visit. Therefore, it is only fair that many federal sewerage and irrigation projects in Sarawak be allocated adequate funds and priority to ensure on-time deliveries,” she stated.
Furthermore, Kho stated that the courtesy visit, which included extensive discussion on Sarawak’s flood, irrigation, and sewerage issues, received positive feedback from Nik Nazmi, who promised to bring Sarawak’s issues to the attention of the Minister of Finance as well as the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) during the federal cabinet meeting.
Accompanying Dr Sim during the courtesy visit to Nik Nazmi were Huang, Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government Michael Tiang, and senior staff from the Ministry of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government. — DayakDaily
