By: Joseph Tawie
24 Mar 2010
KUCHING – Sarawak PKR Women chief Ibi Anak Uding has called on the government to provide electricity and clean water supply to longhouses in the Balai Ringin constituency in line with the government’s concept of ‘1Malaysia, People first and Performance now’.
“Although Snowdan Lawan, the incumbent State assemblyman has distributed some funds for minor rural development projects, there are about 80 % to 90 % of the longhouses which do not have 24-hour supply of electricity and more than 90% do not have clean water supply.
“Even few schools have no electricity and water,” Ibi said after a visit to several longhouses along Simunjan/Punda Road.
Ibi who has been visiting the constituency almost daily is a potential PKR candidate.
She said: “The lack of electricity, water and other infrastructure in the majority of the longhouses is a cause for concern. It appears that the situation in Balai Ringin contradicts Prime Minister Najib’s concept of ‘1 Malaysia, People first and Performance now’.
“For the past 46 years, the people’s needs are last and the performance later. The people here are worst than the animals where the animals are given first priority such as electricity and water at the Pig Farm near Jirok,” she lamented.
Ibi questioned why projects such as football fields were simply handed over to the people when they did not ask for them.
“This is wrong priority. What the people need is electricity and water,” she said.
On the question of NCR land issues which are very “hot” in this constituency, Ibi said the people’s two representatives, the State Assemblyman and the MP for Sri Aman Masir Kujat, are ignoring the misery and the plight of the NCR land owners.
“Where are Snowdan and Kujat and why are they keeping quiet? And why are they not fighting for the interests of the people?” asked by Ibi.
Ibi was referring to some 741,000 acres of land in the Balai Ringin area, the bulk of which are NCR lands which are owned by Ibans from 15 longhouses and Malays from one Malay kampong, have been proposed to be given to Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd, Hock Seng Lee Bhd, Cocolin Industries Sdn Bhd, Poh Lian Plantation Sdn Bhd and Sarawak Economic Development Corporation.
The villagers have written a memorandum to the relevant authorities including UMNO seeking their intervention and they have also engaged a law firm to look into their problems.
Ibi expressed concern over the interests and livelihood of the people as they have been told to leave the area if their lands are untitled, failing which the Land and Survey Department in Kota Samarahan will initiate court actions.
She said that the farmers are adamant in staying in their own lands which have been passed to them by their ancestors and at the same time they have consulted their lawyers with a view to sue the government.
Ibi also expressed anxiety over another big oil palm plantation that has allegedly encroached into NRC lands at Ubah, Tekuyong, Abok and Empaling in the Pantu area.
“Several land owners have been arrested for defending their lands,” she added, pointing out that they have now sued the government and the company for the alleged encroachment.
The case was heard last week in the High Court in Sri Aman and further hearing will be held on 7 April.
Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com
24 Mar 2010
KUCHING – Sarawak PKR Women chief Ibi Anak Uding has called on the government to provide electricity and clean water supply to longhouses in the Balai Ringin constituency in line with the government’s concept of ‘1Malaysia, People first and Performance now’.
“Although Snowdan Lawan, the incumbent State assemblyman has distributed some funds for minor rural development projects, there are about 80 % to 90 % of the longhouses which do not have 24-hour supply of electricity and more than 90% do not have clean water supply.
“Even few schools have no electricity and water,” Ibi said after a visit to several longhouses along Simunjan/Punda Road.
Ibi who has been visiting the constituency almost daily is a potential PKR candidate.
She said: “The lack of electricity, water and other infrastructure in the majority of the longhouses is a cause for concern. It appears that the situation in Balai Ringin contradicts Prime Minister Najib’s concept of ‘1 Malaysia, People first and Performance now’.
“For the past 46 years, the people’s needs are last and the performance later. The people here are worst than the animals where the animals are given first priority such as electricity and water at the Pig Farm near Jirok,” she lamented.
Ibi questioned why projects such as football fields were simply handed over to the people when they did not ask for them.
“This is wrong priority. What the people need is electricity and water,” she said.
On the question of NCR land issues which are very “hot” in this constituency, Ibi said the people’s two representatives, the State Assemblyman and the MP for Sri Aman Masir Kujat, are ignoring the misery and the plight of the NCR land owners.
“Where are Snowdan and Kujat and why are they keeping quiet? And why are they not fighting for the interests of the people?” asked by Ibi.
Ibi was referring to some 741,000 acres of land in the Balai Ringin area, the bulk of which are NCR lands which are owned by Ibans from 15 longhouses and Malays from one Malay kampong, have been proposed to be given to Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd, Hock Seng Lee Bhd, Cocolin Industries Sdn Bhd, Poh Lian Plantation Sdn Bhd and Sarawak Economic Development Corporation.
The villagers have written a memorandum to the relevant authorities including UMNO seeking their intervention and they have also engaged a law firm to look into their problems.
Ibi expressed concern over the interests and livelihood of the people as they have been told to leave the area if their lands are untitled, failing which the Land and Survey Department in Kota Samarahan will initiate court actions.
She said that the farmers are adamant in staying in their own lands which have been passed to them by their ancestors and at the same time they have consulted their lawyers with a view to sue the government.
Ibi also expressed anxiety over another big oil palm plantation that has allegedly encroached into NRC lands at Ubah, Tekuyong, Abok and Empaling in the Pantu area.
“Several land owners have been arrested for defending their lands,” she added, pointing out that they have now sued the government and the company for the alleged encroachment.
The case was heard last week in the High Court in Sri Aman and further hearing will be held on 7 April.
Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com
