KUCHING: The Bintulu Development Board (BDA) has set up a Rural Development Committee to plan and propose development projects in the rural areas of Bintulu division.
Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said that efforts to obtain approval for allocations for development projects, particularly basic infrastructure such as roads, utilities and socio-economics in rural areas in Bintulu are being implemented under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) beginning 2021 to 2025 and thereafter.
“This effort is to drive the local economy and indirectly improve the standard of living and well-being of the people, especially in rural areas in Bintulu.
“Everyone is aware that Bintulu is one of the main industrial and oil and gas hub in Sarawak and there is no denying that this is a major contributor to the improvement of Sarawak’s economy and the success of Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030).
“Therefore, in order to speed up the effort we need infrastructure such as a good road connectivity to connect rural areas with the urban area,” he said.
Dr Rundi said this when officiating at the Bintulu Rural Development Committee Lab here recently.
He added that based on the data collected by the Public Works Department (PWD) Bintulu, the rural areas in Sebauh and Tatau Districts are in dire need of good roads network of approximately 878 kilometres.
“With the existence of the roads, it will definitely benefit the 657 longhouses with 22,166 residents,” he said.
Present at the event were Minister in the Premier’s Department Datuk Seri John Sikie Tayai, Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development Datuk Majang Renggie, Murum assemblyman Kennedy Chukpai Ugon, Tanjong Batu assemblyman Johnny Pang Leong Ming, political secretary to the Premier Jenny Bangga, Bintulu Division Resident Nyurak Keti and BDA general manager Datuk Muhamad Yakub Kari.
