RM14.6 mln for village street lights this year

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Ismail Sabri (centre) performing the gimmick to officiate the project. Seen from second left are village chief Mahdi Rosli, Uggah, Dr Rundi, Nanta and Aisah. — Photos by Muhammad Rais Sanusi

Ismail Sabri (second right) presents a plaque on the opening of the project to village chief Mahdi Rosli.

The brightly lit streets leading to Kampung Pasir Pandak.

KUCHING: A total of RM14.64 million has been allocated to Sarawak for the installation of 16,292 street lighting in villages under the ‘Lampu Jalan Kampung’ (LJK) project this year.

According to Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, beginning from 8th Malaysia Plan until the 11th Malaysia Plan, a total of 27,259 street lighting under the LJK project had been installed in the state.

“Under the 2017 Budget, the federal government had approved RM100 million for LJK project involving 120,000 units of lighting.

“For Sarawak, we allocated 792 units for LED lighting while the rest are High Pressure Sodium Vapour (HPSV) lighting.

“Before the Budget 2017, the government allocated about RM5 million to RM10 million but Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak felt that this project will greatly benefit the people in the villages, so he increased the amount,” he added.

“I am satisfied with the current progress of LJK projects in the state despite completion at 40 per cent. I hope that the balance of 60 per cent can be completed before year-end,” he added.

He said this in his speech when officiating at the state-level LJK project at Kampung Pasir Pandak near here on Sunday night.

“The government, apart from installing the LJK, will also bear the cost of the electricity, which is at about RM70 million annually.”

For Kampung Pasir Pandak, 15 units of HPSV lighting were installed while two LED lighting were installed at strategic places in the village.

Ismail also said that it is his wish to see his ministry receive more funding for LJK project in Budget 2018.

Also present at the event were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Utilities Minister Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Rural and Regional Development Deputy Minister Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi and Sarawak Energy Corporate Service executive deputy president Aisah Eden.