Najib launching the iM Sarawak fire fighting system at Rh Henry Nuni.
Najib being greeted by the longhouse residents upon his arrival. – Bernama photo
Najib tries his skills at a blowpipe. – Bernama photo
BINTULU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has assured that the rural and remote areas in Sarawak will get more development projects if the Barisan Nasional (BN) government continues to get the full support of the people.
Speaking at the meet-the-people session at Rh Henry Nuni Plen in Sg Gelam Sebauh yesterday, he said the people in Sarawak, especially those in the rural and remote areas, still needed BN to bring greater development.
“If the BN wins, it will assure a sustainable growth in the country,” he said.
As the second prime minister to visit the longhouse, Najib expressed his confidence that the state and the people of the longhouse would still be the stronghold of the BN government. Former premier Tun Hussein Onn visited the longhouse in 1979.
“As a prime minister I’m willing to go to the ground and for the record I am the prime minister who frequently visited Sarawak. I want to show to the people that they have made a correct choice to achieve Independence within Malaysia, your future will be guaranteed under BN and the people are actually aware that the opposition is cheating them,” he said.
According to Najib, BN is more reliable and has proven its capability to bring growth to the nation unlike Pakatan Rakyat (PR) who are now enemies among themselves.
“In Peninsular Malaysia, they even declare open war against themselves in the aspect of policies and how the people can trust them to lead the country,” said Najib.
During the event, Najib announced a grant of RM1.5 million for the 53-door longhouse for flood mitigation, addressing the river-front soil erosion and longhouse repair.
He also announced assistance of RM500 for each of the 74,614 rubber smallholders in Sarawak to alleviate their burden due to the drop in rubber prices.
He said Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal would work closely with the Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah and state Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu to coordinate the distribution of the aid totalling RM37.3 million which will be made soon.
At the same time, Najib said he would launch the Pan Borneo Expressway Project today which would open wider doors for the state in terms of development opportunity and wellbeing of the people.
According to Najib, once the expressway is completed there will be a possible drop in the prices of many items in remote areas, taking Ba Kelalan road as an example of a project that had benefited the people in terms of lower transportation costs.
“More funds are needed to develop the rural areas, and the Goods and Services Tax which will be implemented soon is a source of income to develop the rural areas,” Najib added.
Over 5,000 residents in Sebauh gathered at the longhouse to welcome Najib.