Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi
SEBAUH: In his two terms as Kemena assemblyman, 11th Sarawak state election Barisan Nasional incumbent Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom never ceased finding ways to assist its farmers.
Aware that aid would not neccessarily reach the farmers on time, Rundi who is also PBB secretary-general would play the role of motivator to encourage the constituencts not to lose hope.
Rentap anak Pagan, 65, from Rumah Assan, Sungai Semebak here, said Rundi as the area’s representative had untiringly provided encouragement and advice to smallholders in the area.
“He also said don’t lose hope and don’t be shy in asking for assistance from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board or other government agencies.
“And the result is that the government through MPOB approved the application of 96 people from our longhouse to open up 175 hectares worth RM1.57 million for cultivation of oil palm,” he told Bernama.
Rumah Assan is among 19 longhouses in Sebauh which received approval under the Smallholders Oil Palm New Cultivation scheme worth RM6.3 million to open up new land for oil palm cultivation.
Similarly, Tuai Rumah Jimbai Saban, 65, was grateful that his longhouse’s request to expand the community’s oil palm farm had been approved.
“Fifty-two residents of my longhouse will be involved in this programme.
MPOB has approved RM936,000 to cultivate 104 hectares.
“I am confident that Rundi if elected for a third term will do much more for the people. He is very sensitive to the people’s needs,” he said.
For Rundi, close cooperation with the Plantation Industries and Commodities facilitated his efforts to help the farmers in the area.
“We thank the ministry for helping the smallholders. This will provide a certain amount of satisfaction for them and I believe such aid would continue,” he said.
Rundi also thanked the ministry for approving RM2 million to complete the gravel road connecting the oil palm estate with the main road in Kemena.
The allocation was announced by Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas while launching the Commodity Smallholders Transformation Programme at the Sebauh community hall here, today.
Meanwhile, Rundi when asked, described voters’ mood in Kemena as “very good”, saying, BN’s unopposed wins in Bukit Kota and Bukit Sari could have contributed to the cheer.
“It has invigorated the BN machinery statewide. We will ensure that the good
mood persists till election day and end in victory with a big mandate to ‘Team Adenan’,” he said.
In the 2011 state election, Rundi who is also Sarawak BN secretary-general defeated Bernard Binar Bayang Rading from PKR by a majority of 3,349 votes.
Kemena which has 12,991 voters is one of four state constituencies in the Bintulu parliamentary constituency.– BERNAMA