By Lian Cheng and Karen Bong
KUCHING, Nov 21: Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development (MANRED) Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the state’s allocation of RM11 billion is for the implementation of development programmes and to solve the people’s problems.
He, thus, reminded MANRED staff to uphold integrity and be committed in their work in order to help solve the people’s problems, which is what Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg would want to see.
“(During) the first (Cabinet) meeting, we were called to make an integrity pledge, witnessed by (the) Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the minister, (who was at) that time in charge of MACC.
“I was told by MACC that we were the first cabinet to have an integrity pledge in Malaysia. This means YAB Chief Minister wanted to make sure that all our development programmes worth RM6 billion plus budget for next year, I think about RM11 billion (to be delivered).
“So, the reason why he wanted the integrity pledge to be held and all of us to hold up our hands, our right hand, not left one, is to make sure that all the programmes that are to be implemented by all the ministries will be implemented successfully. ‘Successfully’ means we are able to solve the people’s problems,” said Uggah, who is also a Deputy Chief Minister, at MANRED’s Integrity Day here today.
He stressed that it is the objective of the Sarawak government to solve the problems of the people.
“The government has a very sincere objective and a noble cause. The cause is to solve the rakyat’s problems — farmers, fishermen, dairy farmer, businessmen, of all races from Sarawak and irrespective of religions and regions and so on.
“Where there is no road, we will build a road. Where there is no electricity, we provide electricity. Where there has yet to be water, we provide water. Where there is yet (to be) livelihood, we look for livelihood.
“We do this because at the end of the day, (the) rakyat expect the government of the day to be able to deliver and to solve their problems. And that is why YAB Chief Minister insists on the integrity pledge — to show our commitment to bring development to the rakyat,” said Uggah.
He revealed that for 2018, his ministry had been allocated more than RM315 million, with some from the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, and RM40 million for perimeter survey of native customary rights (NCR) land.
“All these allocations are given to us to implement. The government’s expectation (of civil servants) is that we will solve the (rakyat’s) problems and carry out programmes,” said Uggah.
He said for MANRED, the three main objectives are to make Sarawak a net exporter of food products, to reduce the poverty gap between urban and rural areas (which still registers a 1.6 per cent poverty rate) and to eradicate rural poverty. — DayakDaily
