Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi
SIBU: None of the government projects implemented in Kapit has been abandoned and left in disrepair assured its MP Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi.
“As such, I don’t see any project that is completed and later, found to be of no use to the folk in Kapit. Thus far, I can’t readily identify any useless or white elephant projects in my parliamentary constituency, thankfully.
“I believe this was due to the fact that our divisional development committee and elected representatives comprising myself, Tan Sri Dr James (Masing) and others, when asking for any government project, would ensure the projects are meaningful and beneficial to the people.
“So, the implementation thus far is good,” Nanta told The Borneo Post.
He was asked to respond to the news report carried by The Borneo Post under the headline “White elephants in rural areas” after attending the Dayak Youth Association of Sarawak’s (Pebedas) inaugural Annual General Meeting (AGM) at a leading hotel here on Saturday.
He recalled reading from the newspaper that a Deputy Education Minister mentioning that a school in Kapit where the service of a contractor had been terminated.
“Well, I mean that project is good but if it (contractor’s service) is terminated because the project is not completed then, that means a proper action by the government has been taken.
“It is my fervent hope that this project will be completed soon.”
In the news report Senator Lihan Jok highlighted several telecommunication, energy and water supply facilities in the rural areas had been rendered useless soon after they were implemented because they broke down and left unrepaired.
Lihan was further quoted to have called on the authorities, which implemented these projects to check on the equipment or plants after handing them over to the people.
The senator highlighted cases of computer lab and telecommunications systems being abandoned after they were installed in some rural schools due to breakdown of telecommunication lines.
Nanta agreed that certain government facilities needed to be maintained.
“But I also do understand it requires huge financial resources. Now, if we are reasonable enough, we would feel that it is not because the government don’t want to maintain, given there are so many facilities statewide, where a huge sum is required for maintenance.
“And yes, I would like the government to be more efficient in maintenance and allocation for maintenance should be made,” he said.
Towards this end, he called on Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) in Kapit to look more closely at the state of their facilities there.