ON-GOING PROJECT: Among the houses at BRS. The 204 units of RMR are now about 68 per cent complete.
KUCHING: Mambong MP Datuk Dr James Dawos is confident that all residents of four villages affected by Bengoh Dam be fully resettled by the end of this year.
He was optimistic that all the 240 units of Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR) at BRS would be completed in time to accommodate the families of the four villages.
The four villages are Taba Sait, Pain Bojong, Rejoi and Semban, which have a total population of approximately 1,600 people.
The construction of the houses started in March last year and is due to complete by last December.
Contacted yesterday, Dawos who is the committee chairman of BRS pointed out that the construction of the houses had been quite slow due to the rainy season, with Kuching and Samarahan divisions receiving the highest rainfall last year.
“I am quite confident that the resettlement exercise for the four villages (affected by Bengoh Dam) will be completed this year and I believe that the contractor (to build the houses) can complete all the 204 houses,” Dawos, who is Deputy Minister of Tourism, said.
The houses are about 68 per cent completed.
Dawos also said that the youths of the four villages were very receptive of the idea to move, knowing that BRS was very convenient to them.
“While some old people (in the four villages) are unwilling to move, I’m very happy that the youths have accepted to move because they understand the convenience for them to work in the city,” Dawos said.
Assistant Minister of Housing Abdul Karim when contacted yesterday concurred with Dawos that the resettlement exercise be completed this year.
“Yes, all the affected villagers (by Bengoh Dam) will be resettled this year…. hopefully by June,” said the Assistant Minister of Youth Development in his text message.
Meanwhile, it was reported yesterday that folk of Taba Sait were expected to move to BRS in March, making it the first village to do so.
Abdul Karim after being briefed on the relocation was quoted as saying that 58 units of RMR would be handed over to the villagers, adding that the developer had given assurance that all the houses be completed in March.
He said that folk of three other villages – Rejoi, Pain Bojong and Semban – would move in stages.
The second stage is expected to involve Rejoi in April or May, followed by Pain Bojong and Semban, and the houses are expected to be ready by May.