Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi
SIBU: The Rural Electricity and Water Supply Ministry has yet to receive any application for power supply from a number of longhouses in Dudong, with the exception of Rumah Jackson Sibat.
This was disclosed by Rural Electricity and Water Supply Minister Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi yesterday.
Longhouses without electricity supply that have yet to forward their applications are Rumah Anthony Janggu, Rumah Mai Sigai, Rumah Dumin Bakak, Rumah Sain Mani and Rumah Kompani.
Dr Rundi was asked about the matter, following a recently-published article on this newspaper entitled ‘Electricity woes brought to light’.
“The ministry has received the application only from Rumah Jackson Sibat, and it is proposed to be connected supply under the federal’s Rural Electrification Scheme (RES) funding.
“However, the ministry have not received any application from the other longhouses,” he told thesundaypost.
It is learned that Rumah Jackson Sibat is a temporary longhouse and is regarded unsafe for power connection at this point in time.
“In addition, Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) is assessing the condition of these longhouses to enable safe electrical installation and connection for these applicants,” he added.
Meanwhile, two SUPP members aspiring to be the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for Lanang in the 14th general election (GE14), Kelvin Kong and Joseph Chieng met SEB officials recently to discuss the matter.
The two said they were made aware of the predicament faced by the residents during their Gawai Dayak visits to the longhouses recently.
Kong said SEB senior manager (project and planning) Law Hui Lee had briefed them on the current status and details related to the electricity supply in the areas concerned.
He further disclosed that in March, SUPP Dudong chairman Datuk Dr Soon Choon Teck had written a letter to Dr Rundi seeking assistance on the same matter.
Kong assured the longhouse folk that SUPP would continue to look into ways to help them in other areas.