Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu has
been Layar's assemblyman for 38 years yet longhouses in his constituencies are
without piped water and roads.
KUCHING: Frustrated voters in the Layar
constituency, the homebase of Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu, are demanding
that he step down following his failure to solve the acute water shortage
affecting more than 1,940 families.
The calls for his resignation have
become louder as water shortage has hit 80% of the longhouses in his
constituency.
Up to June 27, more than 1,940 families
have been without water due to a prolonged drought that has affected other
areas in the state.
Layar constituency, which Jabu has
represented for more than 38 years, was the worst hit.
And it’s not the first time. Drought and
water shortage is a seasonal presence in Sarawak.
Despite knowing it will happen Jabu has
not done anything to mitigate the problem.
Said Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian: “The
people are starting to ask Jabu what has he been doing all these years.
“He knows very well that the water
shortage is always there. The people have been experiencing it repeatedly. It
is not an unusual drought.”
No piped water to longhouses
Bian, who is also the Ba’Kelalan
assemblyman, said the fact that Jabu had held office for 38 years and did
nothing to mitigate the situation is a “valid” reason for people to call for
his resignation.
“Jabu has failed the people in his
constituency. He has not heard the request and cry of the people for the last
38 years.
“It is a valid reason for the people not
only to question his leadership quality, but also to call on him to step down
as their elected representative,” he said, adding that Jabu has not only failed
the people of Layang and Betong but also the rest of Sarawak.
Betong division, where Layar sits, is
allegedly the worst hit by the water shortage.
Although the Betong town itself is
unscathed, longhouses in the outlying areas are badly affected. Until today,
numerous longhouses near Betong are without piped water.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported that Jabu
proposed to build a temporary dam on the upper reaches of a river in the Betong
Division to raise its water level and ease drought-stricken villages in the
division.
He said the dam would impound the water
that flowed from upstream to alleviate the water shortage problems experienced
by the villagers ever since the dry season started.
“I have discussed with the Betong Public
Works Department divisional engineer to take steps to build a low weir by
pushing in gravels from the river base to build a temporary dam, probably
rising up to two metres,” he said.
He said that as a long-term measure, a
new water treatment plant and roads were being constructed in Krian.
The government, he said, was also
upgrading the present one near Betong Town.
2 comments:
The rumah panjai folks cried for 38 years for pipe water and electricity. All these years, you and YB. Douglas Ugah have ignored their pleas. Isn't it a little too late now, Jabu? You and fellow PBB Douglas Ugah have turned a deaf ear to their pleas and now that your "safe seats" are threatened, you decided to give them another one of your many unfulfilled promises as always. Give them one good reason why they should believe you this time. Please don't take them for fools. You can fool them once but you can not fool them all the time. Times are a changing. Does it ever occur to these rumah panjai folks that the major cause of serious water shortages for the last few years have been caused by deforestation and increasing encroachment of oil palm plantations. Trees and natural foliage retains water but not oil palm!
When a person do not understand the operational function of a government you hear negative comments over petty or almost non-existing issues. Apai Semalau and the rest of his band of just-love-to-criticize our own leaders irrespective of their effectiveness in helping out the dayaks.
To the prejudice mind,its no point to put-forth logic and success stories of YB Datuk Douglas and more importantly YAB Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Alfred Jabu in this little space. Books with 100 of volumes is a right suggestions to capture and narrate their achievements.
Another factor of which the band-of-critics should understand is the fact that YAB Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi is in charge of all sarawakians. Likewise YB Datuk Douglas is taking charge of all Malaysians. They are responsible for Millions of human lives.
Tell the world what is your responsibility mr. Apai Semalau? And your band of prejudice too......
Chaau
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