BETONG, Sept 13: Voters here are urged to reject the opposition during the next state election as they might derail the state government’s plan to develop Sarawak.
According to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, the proposed RM108 million Bebuling Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) Airport risks being cancelled in the event that the opposition comes to power after the state election.
Uggah, who is the Bukit Saban assemblyman, claimed a potential candidate from an opposition party who is eyeing the Bukit Saban seat had talked about the matter during a meeting with longhouse residents here.
“This is an example of how the opposition will work.
“They will disparage important development projects to discredit the government and its elected representatives.
“They are destroying the people’s dreams and needs to move forward,” he asserted when launching the Agriculture Department’s Community Outreach Programme (AgriCOP) at Rh Benard, Engkerbai, Ulu Anyut here today.
Uggah pointed out the construction of the Bebuling STOL Airport is to ease the transportation of farm products for export markets in the shortest time to guarantee freshness.
Aside from Bebuling STOL Airport, there was no telling of how many other big and important projects which would benefit rural residents would be affected if the opposition came to power, he added.
He claimed that the opposition just wanted to spread rumours and instigate the state government.
In spite of that, Uggah who is Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Minister reminded the people that the state government had lined up numerous agricultural development programmes under its RM265 million Agriculture Facilitation Fund.
He emphasised the state government is looking to assist rural folks to generate more income by venturing into modern farming.
“We want to introduce modern farming and new technologies to make farming a very lucrative occupation.
“We will set up more agroparks, CPPC (collecting, processing and packaging centres), wholesale centres and strengthen our engagements with the target groups.
“We will mobilise the area farmer organisations to act as buyers and processors of local products before sending them to the markets,” he added.
On the AgriCOP event, Uggah revealed the State Agriculture Department was conducting the event statewide to forge close ties and relationships with rural farmers.
At the function, Uggah also approved a grant of RM130,000 for the construction of a futsal field and announced an allocation of RM10,000 for the local Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK).
On another note, Betong Divisional Agriculture Officer Petrus Kang disclosed 86 participants attended the oil palm, pepper cultivation and modern agriculture talks held during the AgriCOP event here, and the next AgriCOP programme would be organised in Spaoh.
State Agriculture Department Director Ronald Ripid, political secretary to the Chief Minister Dr Richard Rapu and Betong Division Resident Friday Belik were among those present at the event. — DayakDaily
