Sempurai has plans for wellbeing of SRDC residents

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SIBU: Newly minted Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai has charted a roadmap which lays out both short and long-term plans to ensure the wellbeing of people under its jurisdiction.

Sempurai, 43, is no stranger in providing municipal services, having served as a councillor with Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) for seven years.

He was the chairman of Social and Community Development Standing Committee in addition to being a member of the three other standing committees under SMC.

A lawyer by profession, he is assisted by Robert Lau Hui Yew, who is also in the same practice. Both work in concert with the rest of the team to fulfil the aspiration of the people in line with the council’s vision.

The Borneo Post journalist Peter Boon recently interviewed Sempurai on his plans for the

local authority, whose

jurisdiction covers a wide area. Below is an excerpt from that meeting.

 

BP: What are the municipal services under SRDC that you feel need to be strengthened?

Sempurai: The much-needed services are scavenging and maintenance of rural roads.

With the vast area scavenging service and rural road maintenance will be the major challenges for the council.

Our current strength can only reach half of the area, many of which are only accessible by four-wheel-drive vehicles or by longboats. I refer to Tamin,

Kakus and some parts of Igan and Pasai. As such, for the future of SRDC’s strategic planning, reaching the interior of the jurisdiction will be part of the long-term plan so that some of the municipal services can be enjoyed by the residents.

SRDC is currently in the process of looking into the

Bin Centre facilities. We are

fully aware there is more that

can be done on the Bin Centre

and scavenging services. We do note of the indiscriminate dumping of rubbish and

industrial waste within our jurisdiction.

On this issue, we rather look for long term solution such as enforcement and education and thereafter improve these municipal services. This issue is not only faced by SRDC but also by other municipal and district councils.

 

BP: What are the major problems in the council’s jurisdiction in as far as

services to the people are concerned?

Sempurai: The major

problem is definitely accessibility. In areas such as towns, small bazaars and longhouse that are accessible, the council can provide the basic municipal services. With the vast area,

the council definitely needs to look at the priority especially on road maintenance.

The other maintenance

problem faced by the council is when roads built by other agencies but not handed over to the council, it will create the

issue of ‘who should do the maintenance job’. This creates a dilemma to the council when the people request for road maintenance or when the road condition becomes very bad

due to sinking or landslide.

This problem can be solved

with better communication, especilly inter-agency communication.

 

BP: What are among your

short term and long term plans?

Sempurai: My short term plan will be to look after four key areas I mentioned earlier, ie, infrastructure, provision of facilities, solutions to

flood problem and social

issue. SRDC will also look

closely on the planning and development of the major townships here. Proper planing is essential to ensure

peaceful co-existence between development and  environment.

For the long term, there is the need to look for vibrant and

livable towns under our jurisdiction with their own  administrative building and office. This is important to

ensure effective administration and management of the municipal services to the people.

 

BP: How is the dengue problem under SRDC?

Sempurai: The dengue issue is still under control. So far, there is no outbreak within the jurisdiction. We remain vigilant and work closely with other government agencies such as Health Department for

prevention and monitoring.