KUCHING: Balai Ringin community leaders have expressed their dismay over being excluded from the Greater Kuching Coordinated Development Agency (GKCDA).
According to the statement, GKCDA presently stretches across nine constituencies such as Tanjung Datu, Opar, Tasik Biru, Serembu, Mambong, Tarat, Tebedu, Bukit Simuja and Kedup in order to develop the predominantly Bidayuh areas from Lundu, Bau and Serian.
However, it stated that the Balai Ringin constituency was not included in GKCDA.
As such, Temenggong Harrison Lunsa from Balai Ringin expressed his disappointment over the exclusion.
“Despite our constituency being predominantly Iban, that is not the reason to exclude us from being part of the agency.
“Almost every race such as Bidayuh, Iban, Malay, Chinese, Remun and Orang Ulu can be found living in the Balai Ringin constituency.
“To have the agency approaching our development agenda based on racial or communal integration is not a good practice. It should be discouraged and avoided at all costs,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Penghulu Pelie Jumbu also voiced his unhappiness.
He pointed out that the Balai Ringin constituency is run in the ambit of the Serian administrative centre.
“There are more than 100 kampung registered under the Balai Ringin sub district which is also in Serian Division.
“If Balai Ringin is excluded it means the populace is deprived of the incoming development.
“We don’t wish to be sidelined. It was just unfortunate that the constituencies are made up within three administrative centers Serian, Sri Aman and Simunjan,” he said.
Kg Melayu headman Idris Manap and Kg Sepan tuai rumah Anthony Lama Bungkol also shared their unhappiness.
“Last time, when Serian requested to be elevated to division status, they included our kampung to make up the quota.
“Now when Serian is a division and GKCDA is set up, they exclude us. It should be inclusive and not have us marginalised.
“GKCDA has been allocated a sum of RM1.5bil to fund their projects by the state. Let our people in Balai Ringin regardless of race benefit from government projects too,” they emphasised.
The formation of GKCDA was announced by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg on June 12 last year in Bau.
The Sarawak government has allocated RM1.5bil to the agency as it is one of the state government’s strategies to speed up development.
