Ridzuan says the voices of residents must be taken seriously, as these issues impact the well-being and future of families across Bongawan.
BONGAWAN (Nov 19): Communities in Bongawan continue to raise concerns about issues directly affecting their daily lives, particularly those involving education, the management of funeral aid schemes, and long-overdue local development.
Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Ridzuan Firdaus said the voices of residents must be taken seriously, as these issues impact the well-being and future of families across Bongawan.
He stressed the urgent need to enhance supplementary learning initiatives both academic and sports-related, to support students in Bongawan.
“There must be stronger programmes that can reduce the education gap between rural and urban students while helping low-income families provide better academic and sports support for their children,” he said.
He explained that through structured guidance, safe learning environments and consistent academic encouragement, students would have better opportunities to excel academically and to pursue sports more meaningfully.
Ridzuan said he believes that investing in the education of Bongawan’s children today will lay the foundation for a more competitive, confident and capable future generation.
“With the support of parents, educators and the community, these initiatives will become an important step in strengthening education in Bongawan, a key pillar in securing the future of our youth,” he added.
Residents have also highlighted the need to improve the management of funeral aid (khairat kematian) schemes at local mosques and surau.
Many feel that existing processes should be simplified and updated to reflect current needs, while better coordination between mosques and surau is crucial to ensure consistency.
Such improvements, they say, would help families respond more effectively during emergencies and reduce unnecessary stress during difficult times.
Ridzuan said concerns over physical infrastructure and local development remain pressing, noting that residents are increasingly worried about the lack of significant progress in the area.
He said essential facilities such as roads, drainage systems, public lighting and community spaces form the backbone of a good quality of life, yet Bongawan has seen little notable improvement for a long period.
“The absence of new development raises concerns about safety, local economic growth and the overall well-being of the community,” he said.
Residents hope that renewed attention and planning will ensure Bongawan does not continue to lag behind other areas.
Ridzuan said he has been closely monitoring all issues raised and continues to update the community on developments while encouraging all relevant stakeholders to review and address the needs expressed by residents.
“Quality education, an organised funeral aid system and progressive local development are essential elements in building a harmonious and resilient community,” he said.