Infrastructure development is important to speed up economic growth and integrate our economy with other countries, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“It is important that everyone of us must understand that the needs of the rakyat to have basic infrastructure, is very critical in the development of our people and the progress of Sarawak.
“We must acknowledge that the existing coverage of infrastructures and utilities in the state need to be expanded on an accelerated basis,” he said.
Abang Johari said to solve the issue the state government have taken steps by approving and implementing massive strategic infrastructure and utility projects for the interest of the rakyat and the state.
“These projects are roads, bridges, water and electricity supply as well as telecommunication and connectivity infrastructures,” he said in his winding-up speech, yesterday.
He also mentioned projects that had been implemented by the various state agencies under different types of projects, namely Projek Rakyat, Rural Transformation Project (RTP), Coastal Road Network, Second Trunk Road, Sarawak Water Supply Grid Programme, Rural Electrification Master Plan and Telecommunication Tower Project.
All these projects are people-centric which have high impact on the livelihood of the rakyat. The planning for these projects involved bottom-up approach based on the request and the needs of the rakyat.
“Once it is completed, the rakyat will have access to clean water supply, 24-hour power supply, better road and internet connectivity,” he said.
“We believe that the completion of these projects will enhance the well-being of the rakyat, create jobs for the local people and spur domestic business activities and support the growth of local industries.
“Besides, it also opens land for agriculture and real estate development, efficient and cheaper logistics and transportation of goods and bridge the gap between the urban and rural areas,” Abang Johari added.
“For example, accessibility to clean and treated water is good for our health, better road linkages enable people to have easy access to hospital, clinic, school and town centres. Electricity supply and telecommunication connectivity enable people to have better access to information via internet and television.
“These examples are just to indicate that the focus of government spending in these areas is an obligation and should not be politicised,” he said.
