Lo Khere Chiang
KUCHING (Feb 6): Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen has been told to lobby for more projects and funds from the federal Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) to meet the challenges faced by Sarawak in mitigating flood prone areas, particularly in Stampin constituency.
Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Lo Khere Chiang said Chong should do so since he is also a member of parliament (MP) in the unity government.
He pointed out that flood mitigation is under the purview of the federal government and major drainage studies and projects cost hundreds of millions to implement, and funds should be provided by the federal government.
He said the council takes care of secondary roads and drains which discharge into major drains which are designed for and constructed by the federal government in collaboration with the Sarawak government.
“The Stampin MP should encourage more development plans in Sarawak.
“Being in the unity government, Chong should lobby for more development funds for Sarawak,” he told The Borneo Post in a response to Chong’s statement against the proposed new MPP building project.
Chong in a statement published in The Borneo Post yesterday had said that “Instead of spending RM60 million of Sarawak tax payers’ money to build a new MPP new office building, the fund should be better spent to improve the drainage and irrigation system in the MPP areas”.
Lo said presently the old MPP office does not have an auditorium, multipurpose hall and gardens.
He said the new office is not just an office but “It’s a long term plan over 20 acres of land to complement development plans for the future”.
“As the area surrounding this new office flourish with commercial and housing developments in the years ahead, this 20 acres of greens and parks with a natural detention pond and public facilities like auditorium, multipurpose hall, library and roof top garden, walking or running tracks promises to provide a conducive avenue for the communities to meet, interact and use the facilities for the benefit of the communities themselves,” he said.