THE state government has been urged to address the poor housing situation in Singai and Jagoi, Bau.
Datuk Henry Harry Jinep (BN-Tasik Biru) said these two areas under his constituency had many dilapidated houses whereby the occupants were unable to rebuild or repair the houses nor could they afford to build new ones.
“The problem of dilapidated housing is serious in areas like Singai which has no oil palm plantations to talk about while Jagoi only has few such plantations.
“It is not quite so serious at Selampit and Stenggang with several major oil palm plantations nearby. Seemingly so, these oil palm plantations give an economic spin-off to the people in nearby villages,” he told the august House yesterday.
He added that with Tasik Biru now almost a sub-urban constituency, there would be local tourists from outside Bau frequenting these places.
“It is not nice to have this unpleasant sight of dilapidated homes for the local tourists to remark upon. If these are left unresolved, that’s troubling.”
He thus requested for a better minor rural project (MRP) fund for his constituency to enable him to address the issue promptly.
Henry also touched on under-utilised NCR lands which the state government should look into for a proper and economical utilisation of such lands to bring better economic returns for the landowners.
He proposed that people living on NCR lands should produce food by utilising their lands, starting off initially with assistance from the government.
“We should seriously consider how to move and motivate these rural folk to grow their own rice like what they have done for ages.
“We should move our people to become rice producers for their own consumption and even for the market. After all, planting paddy to most rural Dayaks is their second nature.”
Henry later told a press conference that Bau had the potential to become a tourist destination in Kuching Division.
He said one of the potential tourist attractions under his constituency was homestays.
“I have discussed this with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and have called for internal discussion with the local people. We may start with 10 families who are willing to take up this homestay project and see the outcome.
“As an elected representative, I will assist them on how to develop this homestay with support of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture,” he said, adding that a meeting would be held at a village after the DUN sitting to identify families interested to embark on the project.
Henry also said there were many upcoming programmes to be held in Bau such as the International Military Carnival from Apr 19 to 22 next year.
“This international carnival is a collaboration with the American military who has visited the villages in Bau and they are very interested to stay there during the carnival.
“This is a way we can help kickstart the homestay business for the local folk,” he said.