Residents’ committee an ideal platform to air grievances

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MIRI: Malaysians in Sarawak should reject out right politics that play with the sentiment and emotion of the people, as it could undermine or even ruin the long established political stability and racial unity in the state and country as a whole.

Assistant Minister for Communications Datuk Lee Kim Shin stressed that political stability and peace were crucial for continued development of the country and people to live in peace and harmony.

“New trend of politics which can be seen in the recent Parliamentary Election in Sibu whereby some political parties play with the sentiment of the people, including religious issues, is very dangerous especially in a multi-racial country like ours.

“Thus, the people have to be wary of political parties or individuals who want to try their luck in the impending Sarawak general election,” he said.

Lee told reporters this in Miri yesterday after closing the Greening and Health Programme organised by the Miri City Council (MCC) Residents’ committee Zone 2 at Kampong Muhibbah Kuala Baram.

Among those present were the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of MCC, Lawrence Lai Yu Son and Chee Kadir respectively, the Political Secretary to the Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Sebastian Ting, Miri District Officer, Boniface Intang Apat and MCC Secretary Antonio Kathi Galis.

Earlier in his speech, Lee reiterated that the existing accelerated development achieved in Malaysia and Sarawak in particular was due to the close cooperation between the government and the people.

Thus, he said such situation must be nurtured and perpetuated so that Sarawak could continue to progress and its people could be assured of a better quality of life and the peace and harmony they enjoyed.

On the Residents’ committee, Lee was happy with the achievements so far adding that the Greening and Health Programme was an excellent example.

The 25 Residents’ committees are ideal platforms for the people to voice their grievances and find immediate solutions to problems in the respective zones.

“For example, at Zone 2, the people in Kampong Muhibbah could bring up issues like improvement of football field and building of community hall for immediate attention of the government. The gotong royong too is important to clean up mosquito breeding grounds to prevent an outbreak of dengue,” he said.

He assured them that the government would continue to work together with the people in upgrading the facilities at the village.

At the function he announced a RM60,000 government grant from the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water for the proposed community hall and upgrading of the grandstand of the football field. Lee personally allocated RM5,000 for the grandstand.

“As for the request to upgrade the football field, we need to get JKR to estimate the cost and the District Office to take up the project, as the cost is over the limit of the MRP grant, and previously more than RM100,000 had been spent on the field,” he stressed.

Lee also presented prizes to winners of the three competitions, namely Bomba Kampong, gunnysack race and traditional lawn bowl.

Earlier in his speech, the chairman of the MCC Zone 2 Residents’ Committee, Julaihi Mohamad said the upgrading of the football field was necessary as the area was frequently flooded.

“Each time there is a high tide coupled with heavy rain, this field becomes a swimming pool and thus cannot serve its original purpose. Besides the grandstand is sub-standard and there is urgent need to build public toilets too,” he said.

He also urged the government to provide funds for the construction of another multi-purpose court that could be used for sepak takraw and volleyball.

On the Greening and Health Programme carried out at  Kampong Muhibbah, Julaihi said it was part of the series to be organised this year.

Similar projects will be carried out at Kampong Pangkalan Lutong later this year, while a similar project has been carried out at Kampong Batu 1.

Among the activities carried out during the weeklong programme were health screening, tree and flower planting, games and gotong royong to clean the village surroundings.