Certain projects take time, says Masing

3

LAUNCHED: Masing cuts the ribbon to officially open the new bridge at SK Nanga Bena as Zaini (second right) and Kayan (left) look on.

KAPIT: Though projects requested by the people are sometimes delayed, they will eventually be implemented, assured Senior Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing.

He said this is because the BN government does not forget its promise to the people.

“This doesn’t mean that the BN government will conveniently forget about the people’s requests because some projects take time to implement,” said Masing at the launching of the state-level 1Malaysia School Adoption Programme at SK Nanga Bena, Sungai Sut, some 50 km from here last Saturday.

He added that waiting for the projects to be implemented was better than supporting the opposition who brought zero development to the people.

“Just look at Pelagus which is under SWP assemblyman George Lagong. The people are craving for projects but he can’t deliver because he has no allocation for the people,” he added.

Masing, who is also Baleh assemblyman, denied that the government had neglected the people.

“On the contrary, the government always improves the people’s lives by implementing infrastructure development projects in various places,” he said.

He cited Nanga Sut which used to be inaccessible except by river in the past as an example, saying it was now served by a road though not fully tar-sealed yet.

On a related matter, he said SK Nanga Bena and the local rural health clinic would be considered for relocation to a more suitable site as the present location was prone to flooding and landslide.

The Borneo Post had highlighted the plight of the people living near Nanga Bena rural health clinic which was abandoned for four years but was recently re-opened to serve the 22 longhouses in its vicinity.

Earlier, state deputy information director Zaini Mohamad said the 1Malaysia School Adoption Programme was a smart partnership between the Information Department and Education Ministry.

“Through this programme, the department has the opportunity to implement government policies in primary schools, even those in rural areas,” he said.

SK Nanga Bena was the first school to be adopted under the programme in the state, which was aimed at enhancing the pupils’ social and cultural development.

SK Nanga Bena headmaster Christopher Kayan also spoke at the function.

At the same ceremony, Masing presented incentives in the form of school bags to students who did well in last year’s UPSR examination.

He also handed over prizes to the winners of a colouring competition.

Earlier on, Masing officially opened a new bridge linking the main road to the school.

Among those present at the function were Political Secretary to the Chief Minister Wilson Nyabong, Kapit district officer Elvis Didit and Masing’s private secretary Wilson Ugak Kumbong.