Ahmad Lai committed to improving facilities for his Sibuti constituents
MIRI: When Ahmad Lai Bujang won the Sibuti parliamentary seat on Mar 8, 2008, many areas in Bekenu and Lambir lacked basic infrastructure facilities like roads, clean water and electricity supply despite their proximity to Miri city.
ON SITE INSPECTION: Ahmad Lai (third right) inspecting road works in Sibuti.
The MP therefore made improving infrastructure facilities his top priority to ensure his constituents in various sub-rural areas also enjoyed the fruits of development.
To realise this, he had been working very closely with Lambir assemblyman Datuk Aidan Wing and Bekenu assemblywoman Rosey Yunus.
They have been rewarded with some success as thus far, 70 to 80 per cent of the constituency have electricity supply while 60 per cent clean water.
The latest electrification project was at Bukit Kisi, Peninjau, costing about half a million ringgit.
As for roads, most areas now have gravel roads with 60 per cent upgraded and some tar-sealed while a number of bridges have also been built for several villages for easy access.
Ahmad Bujang admitted it was a great challenge to deliver infrastructure projects in Sibuti due to the cost factor.
“Sibuti parliamentary seat consists of two state constituencies – Lambir and Bekenu. It is not easy to cover such a big sub-rural area where the villages and longhouses are scattered all over the area,” he remarked.
In view of that, he urged the people to be patient as the government is committed to an effective delivery service.
The MP was also very keen for Sibuti to have a higher learning of institution, more kindergartens, medical services centre and fire station.
He said it was always his dream to make sure the people in Sibuti were able to keep abreast with global development changes.
As Sibuti benefits from the ripple effect of rapid development in Miri, he urged constituents to reap the economic opportunities created and be more competitive.
In general, he was very happy to note the rural folks in Sibuti had ventured into commercial scale agriculture projects such as poultry rearing, fishery and oil palm plantation besides other entrepreneurial undertakings. These had helped to uplift their living standard, noted Ahmad Lai.
“I’m indeed very happy to see the people have changed their mindset from traditional farming to commercial business venture. In fact, commercial business participation is the most effective means to get them out of the vicious cycle of poverty,” he remarked.
At the same time, he wanted to work closely with Aidan and Rosey to further explore the vast tourism potential of Sibuti.
For example, the government has allocated half a million ringgit to develop the homestay project at Patrick Libau Longhouse. The project has been implemented successfully and is one of the major attractions for tourists from Europe countries, Japan and Korea.
Ahmad Lai called on Sibuti folk to strive to uplift their living standard, saying the government could only chart the development map for them.
“They should grab the opportunity and stop relying too much on government assistance. Otherwise they would be left behind by the current development agenda,” he remarked.