MUKAH: Tellian assemblyman Royston Valentine has urged the local community to be united in dealing with social problems being faced.

He said the community at the same time should also focus on the development of human capital at the grassroots level.

“Social problem such as online gambling needs to be eradicated completely and this activity should not be allowed to drag on and become the second worst problem after drug abuse which has been spreading like cancer in our society for a long time,” he said.

He said this in his speech during the “Mesra Masyarakat” event organised by Petanak Jaya Rukun Tetangga (KRT).

He also shared information related to the issues of the constituency which were raised in the last state legislative assembly sitting especially on the coastal erosion problem currently affecting Kuala Sungai Petanak.

“The relevant parties have been asked to make appropriate preliminary studies and take remedial action as well as long-term planning to overcome this problem,” he added.

Royston also announced a grant amounting to RM3,000 to KRT Petanak Jaya for the implementation of KRT Petanak Jaya activities in the future.

Also present with chairman of KRT Petanak Jaya Wahid Udin, Department of National Unity and Integration officer of Mukah Division Lau Siew Yen, vice president of the Malaysian Youth Council Muhd Tarmizi Karnain, Pemanca Mohamad @ Mohd Jali Kawi, Penghulu Edmund Innu and head of the Petanak Ulu KK Kuheng Akup.