KAPIT, Oct 14: The Upper Rajang Development Agency (URDA) has established nine sub-committees to address the issues and challenges of accelerating socio-economic development in the region.
According to a report by Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas), URDA chairman Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the sub-committees would be headed by assemblymen and Members of Parliament (MPs) in the region.
The nine sub-committees are infrastructure and security; agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries; tourism, arts and culture; forestry and environmental sustainability; community development and land matters; education and health; utilities and telecommunications; industrial and entrepreneurial development; and youth, sports, and technical training.
“The establishment of the sub-committees was agreed upon in the 4th URDA board meeting held today (Oct 11) and chaired by me.
“During the meeting, I took over the leadership of the late Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing.
“In addition, the deputy chairman of URDA has also been appointed today, Datuk Liwan Lagang,” he said after chairing the 4th meeting of URDA at the State Government Complex in Kapit on Tuesday (Oct 11).
Nanta, who is also the caretaker Minister for Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs and Kapit incumbent, explained that the meeting also focused on presenting the current status of projects being implemented under URDA.
“There are six projects in URDA that have been completed, 25 are being implemented, and another 11 are still in the planning stage.
“In addition, there are projects that need to be re-evaluated due to some constraints,” he added.
URDA, established in 2017, was allocated RM1.5 billion by the Sarawak government to implement 42 infrastructure and socio-economic projects.
Nanta explained that the agency had used almost the entire fund for infrastructure projects such as roads and water supply.
“But now the time has come to help and empower the people’s economy from the point of view of providing socio-economic programmes to them,” he said.
He also mentioned that the Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) was completed by the Regional Corridor Development Authority (RECODA).
Also present were Hulu Rajang incumbent Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong; Kanowit incumbent Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang; Belaga assemblyman Datuk Liwan Lagang; Pelagus assemblyman Wilson Nyabong Ijang; Baleh assemblyman Nicholas Kudi Jantai; Ngemah assemblyman Anyi Jana; Murum assemblyman Kennedy Chukpai Ugon; Katibas assemblyman Lidam Assan; Machan assemblyman Allan Siden Gramong, RECODA chief executive officer Datu Ismawi Ismuni and Kapit Resident Nyurak Keti. — DayakDaily
