KUCHING: Work on the bund along the shores of Buntal will begin soon as allocation from the Federal Government has been approved.The initial allocation of RM6 million was not enough so Santubong MP Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar had requested an extra RM2 million from the Federal Government.
“The project is to repair and build the remaining one kilometre stretch of bund along the shores of Buntal. An allocation of RM6 million has been approved for the project but due to the difficult terrain and lack of road access, the total cost had increased to over RM8 million.
“I have requested an extra RM2 million from the Federal Government and there should not be any problem,” he said after presenting an Emergency Aid cheque at his office in Satok here yesterday.
Junaidi, who is also Deputy Parliament Speaker, told reporters that work on the bund will began in February this year and expected for completion in February next year.
“The bund, when completed will protect six villages within the Integrated Agricultural Development Area (IADA) Samarahan area from salt water.
“The villages are Kpg Semilang, Kpg Beradik, Kpg Sungai Pinang, Kpg Tiang Api, Kpg Tanju and Kpg Beliong. Many of the villagers are progressive farmers and have many crops like papaya and pumpkin.
“If salt water from the ocean intrudes into the villages, it would affect their crops,” revealed Junaidi while pointing out that the landas season, which increases the risk of salt water intrusion, is approaching.
Earlier, Junaidi presented a cheque for RM5,000 from his Parliament Service Centre to Kampung Temedak (Temenggong) because some of the houses in the village were affected by erosion caused by poor drainage maintenance.
Junaidi said the aid would help affected villagers repair the eroding drainage system that was threatening to collapse the foundations of two to three houses.