Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun
KUCHING: The parliamentary seat of Selangau should remain a Barisan Nasional (BN) stronghold according to incumbent Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said his focus remains to further enhancing the area’s physical developments, particularly for the over 800 longhouses there.
“As far as the Selangau seat is concerned, it’s very safe. So for as long as the BN does not commit a fatal or catastrophic strategy, Selangau is a BN fixed deposit,” Entulu told The Borneo Post yesterday.
“We have a big plan for the whole of Selangau District, especially in terms of amenities like water and electricity supplies to about 20 longhouses that need urgent attention.”
The Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) deputy president pointed out he has been providing the Lifesaver potable water treatment system for longhouses.
“We are supplying these UK technology mini water treatment devices as they are very handy for smaller communities,” he said.
Entulu said he would also work with Minister of Utilities Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi on other mini water treatment systems such as Paula (Potable Aqua Unit – Lasting and Affordable) from Germany for the remotest areas in Selangau.
“I will consult Dato Sri Dr Rundi on how the new mini water treatment technology could be applied in my constituency,” he said.
For electricity supply, Entulu said most longhouses use their own generator sets, but those near the main power grid have 24-hour electricity supply.
“As for roads, most of the longhouses are reachable by road, especially abandoned logging roads. But there are still quite many which are only reachable by boat,” he said.
Entulu added he is also working with the state assemblymen under Selangau – Assistant Minister of Native Laws and Customs Datuk John Sikie Tayai (Kakus) and Christopher Gira Sambang (Tamin), who are also from PRS.