DAP to implement nine more ‘Impian Sarawak’ projects in the rural areas

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KUCHING: The DAP will launch nine more projects under its ‘Impian Sarawak’ initiative in the first quarter of this year.

Its state chief Chong Chieng Jen said the identified projects would be implemented in the state constituencies of Pakan, Kedup, Marudi, Batu Danau, Repok, Tarat, Bawang Assan, Kidurong and Lanang.

“Impian Sarawak (launched since last October) has very quickly achieved one of our key goals, which is to ensure that Barisan Nasional will not take the votes of rural Sarawakians for granted, and play its role as the government of the day to improve the simple and basic infrastructure desperately lacking in these areas,” he said in a statement yesterday.

For the first project in Pakan, Julau, he said it would be at Ulu Wak. A new gravity water feed system would be erected there to replace the existing one that is ailing due to draught and decaying pipes.

The ‘Impian Sarawak’ team will also install new gravity water feed systems to ensure consistent water supply to a village each in Kedup (in Serian), Sungai Arang (in Marudi, Baram), and Rantau Kurra (in Medamit, Batu Danau in Limbang).

In Repok, Sarikei, the team would work with the villagers to improve and upgrade a longhouse that is now in a dilapidated state.

Also in their plan is the upgrading and improvement of road access at Kampung Kiding and Kampung Kakas in Tarat, Mambong.

Its proposed project at Sungai Rasau in Bawang Assan, Sibu, would see the team constructing and upgrading a new jetty for Rumah Pasang, which is now in a deplorable condition. The villagers rely entirely on the river for their travelling and livelihood.

At Batu Niah in Kidurong, Bintulu, the Impian Sarawak plan to assist with infrastructure upgrading works at a longhouse there.

The ninth project would be at Salim Pelalang in Dudong, Lanang, where the team would assist in upgrading the wooden bridge of a longhouse. The bridge, built 30 years ago, is used daily by children to go to school and adults to go to their farmland.

‘Impian Sarawak’ is trumpeted as an initiative by the DAP to provide basic infrastructure such as roads, water and electricity for the rural communities. It forms part of the party’s ‘Go Rural’ strategy to win the support of rural voters.

Since its launching in October last year, three projects have been implemented, namely a gravity-feed water system in Kampung Sait Muk Ayun, Bengoh, upgrading of Rumah Gawai in Serikin, Bau (Tasik Biru) and oil palm seedling supply project to farmers in Sebujok, Ulu Undup, Sri Aman.

Chong claimed another project identified at Rumah Gerik Ak Tom near Betong had ‘awakened’ the state goverment from its ‘slumber’, with the Public Works Department (JKR) being instructed to carry out piping works from the main pipe to the longhouse before the ‘Impian Sarawak’ team moved in.

Supposed to be implemented by the team at the end of last year, JKR took just five days to complete the water connection project that enabled the longhouse folks to enjoy clean and treated water after a wait of 50 years and just in time for Christmas, he said.

“It is completely shameful that a critical and necessary project costing less than RM10,000 and taking less than five days to complete was only undertaken after the threat of `Impian Sarawak’ upstaging the government.

“The DAP will tick off the Kampung Gerik Ak Tom water project as one of our successes, and will celebrate the achievement together with the local villagers.”