THE Additional and Late Applicant Fund (ALAF) in 2018 has benefited 755 villages comprising 9,090 households throughout the state.
Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Julaihi Narawi said that to date, there were about 35,000 applicants who needed electrical installations through the ALAF scheme.
“This project is an ongoing scheme that is in various stages of implementation,” he said in his ministerial winding-up speech yesterday (May 24).
The (ALAF) has been allocated under the People’s Project for houses that are left behind or newly built after the rural electricity supply project is completed in the area.
Julaihi said his ministry was committed to completing all ALAF projects throughout the state.
“However, there are some obstacles and challenges when implementing this project.
“Among them, is the lack of a competent number of qualified people for Sarawak Energy to carry out work near the grid system safely and also shortage of interested contractors to complete this project.
“To date, there are 18 contractors with 29 teams involved in the implementation of ALAF projects but this is still insufficient,” he said.
He said his ministry and its main agency Sarawak Energy were working hard to increase the number of competent people as well as the number of contractors.
“This includes conducting appropriate special training to enhance the skills of competent persons to have specialised expertise with the Sarawak Energy grid system. We will look for ways to facilitate contractors who have competent people to participate in ALAF projects,” he said.
Julaihi said the increase in the price of building materials in the market also had an impact on the implementation of ALAF projects.
“The price of this project needs to be re-evaluated in line with rising prices of building materials in the market.”
He said the ministry had planned to hold a workshop at the end of July to discuss the effective direction for the implementation of the ALAF projects to ensure that every household had access to electricity.
