Uggah hanging a bird cage to symbolically launch the competition. Also seen are Rosey (third left) and Mohamad Azahar (fifth right).
MIRI: The Rural Transformation Centre (RTC) in Bekenu and Betong will continue to be in operation despite not receiving any funds from the federal government, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
Uggah, who is also Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development disclosed that both RTCs have not been receiving federal funds since the beginning of this year.
“These Rural Transformation Centres previously come under the Ministry of Rural Development. With the change of (federal) government, we have been informed that for Sarawak they are not providing the financing anymore beginning this year.
“So, they said they hand (the RTCs) over to the state government,” he said when met during the officiating ceremony of Pertandingan Seni Suara dan Gaya Burung Kicau Seantero Borneo in Bekenu here today.
In view of this, Uggah said the Sarawak government had, during the last cabinet meeting, agreed to allocate RM380,000 every year for the maintenance of the RTCs.
“The reason why is because RTC is a very important feature in the rural areas because many services are available there and it has benefited number of people,” he said.
Uggah said the Sarawak government felt that it is important to sustain the RTCs.
“Now, these RTCs comes under the state with state financing. So, RTC Bekenu and Betong will continue to be opened,” he added.
At the event, Uggah announced an allocation of RM20,000 to Kelab Pencinta Burung Kicau Miri (Pekicau Miri) as a show of support for organising the event and for their future activities.
Present were Bekenu assemblywoman Rosey Yunus, Sibuti MP Lukanisman Awang Sauni and Pekicau Miri president Mohamad Azahar Bujang.