MULU: The people of Kampung Melinau and Kampung Batu Bungan in the sub-district here want their areas to be gazetted as village reserves.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state government will consider the matter and discuss it further with the Land and Survey Department.
“Once the village reserves are gazetted, we will plan the development of basic infrastructures,” he said during a leader-with-the-people session at Mulu Marriot Resort and Spa on Tuesday evening (April 6).
Abang Johari added the state government was committed to developing the Mulu area and would continue to bring development projects to it.
“One of them is providing free electricity which is obtained from the solar plants through the Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrification Scheme (Sares),” he explained.
He said currently, more than 90 percent of the area could enjoy 24-hour electricity supply through Sares.
“By the end of this year or early 2022, the whole of Mulu is expected to have 100 percent coverage of electricity supply,” he said.
Abang Johari after solving the electricity issue, the next move was to ensure internet coverage which was crucial for the students and e-commerce activities.
State Legislative Assembly (DUN) deputy speaker and Mulu assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala, earlier in his speech, said Kampung Melinau and Kampung Batu Bungan had not been gazetted as village reserves.
“I have presented the people’s request to Abang Johari. At Kampung Melinau now, there are more than 92 villages which are quite scattered,” he said.
Gerawat thanked the state government for the ongoing infrastructure projects under the Highland Development Agency (HDA).
He explained that the projects included the RM35 million water treatment plant for the Mulu National Park area, RM20 million for the provision of 24-hour electricity supply, and the construction of the RM700,000 Kampung Melinau Balai Raya (community station) under the Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) soon.
“The Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) has also given allocations for the construction of the BEM and Catholic churches in Kampung Melinau as well as the upgrading of other churches in Mulu,” he said.
Gerawat added the HDA projects were in addition to the development projects given by the respective ministries or departments.
“We are indeed thankful to Abang Johari and the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government for all the projects and those that are going to be implemented for us in Mulu.
“With that, we assure you we will give our fullest support to you and the GPS government to continue leading Sarawak,” he said.
