Govt cancels resettlers’ RM41-million debt

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BELAGA: Prime Minister Datuk Patinggi Najib Tun Razak has announced that the federal government will write off the remaining RM41 million housing loan to some 1,500 families in the Sungai Asap Resettlement Scheme.

HERE YOU ARE: Najib (second left) presents a RM5 million mock cheque to the chairman of Bakun Special Resettlement Committee Dato Sri Dr James Jemut Masing as Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud (left) and Hulu Rajang Member of Parliament Datuk Billy Abit Joo look on.

He said the decision was taken as the people in the resettlement scheme have no proper income.

In all, some 10, 000 people were affected as a result of the resettlement programme when Bakun Hydro Dam was built more than a decade ago.

“In principle we will cancel the housing loan. The details and mechanism of how it will be done will be discussed with Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd, the developer of Bakun Dam,” Najib told the people at a meet-the-people session at Rumah Belor, Sg Asap here yesterday.

He added the government wanted to write off the loan because it understood their plight and hardship.

The prime minister was taken by their plight and promised to bring more development to the people displaced by the dam.

He had earlier revealed that the federal government acted in cognizance with the state government which had also cancelled the other half of the RM41 million allocated for the housing scheme.

Besides announcing the cancellation of the remaining housing loan, Najib also announced that the federal government will build the much awaited Bakun-Belaga Road at a cost of RM62 million.

He said the road would be built by the army to lessen the cost.

Najib revealed that if JKR were to build the road, it would cost RM350 million.

“But the army will build it under the ‘Jiwa Murni’ programme to reduce the cost,” he said.

Najib also announced that the electricity supply to the people of Sg Asap will be connected to the main grid at a cost of RM22 million.

Najib, who is also Minister of Finance said he was sad to hear that the people in Sg Asap did not get enough land to increase their income as the allocation was only three acres per family.

“We will find the best ways to allocate more land to each family to ensure the people have a better income,” he said.

Najib announced that the government would also build nine resthouses (Rumah Arau) for Penan pupils at Sg Urun at a cost of RM100,000 each.

He said the government’s transformation plan was to ensure that no race was neglected in terms of development.

“Our desire is to see that no single race – no matter how small or isolated – will be left behind by the present government,” he reiterated.

At the function, the prime minister gave a RM5 million allocation to the Bakun Trust Fund, headed by Minister of Land Development Dato Sri Dr James Masing who is also chairman of the Bakun Special Resettlement Committee.

Najib also announced a RM1.14 million allocation to the Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) to train entrepreneurs to ensure the Dayak community especially Ibans, Bidayuhs and Orang Ulus were not be left behind in business.

He also gave RM450 each to 114 primary pupils and RM600 each to 36 secondary students.

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and Hulu Rajang MP Datuk Billy Abit Joo also spoke at the function.

Some 3, 000 people gathered at the longhouse, including some federal and state ministers.