INCUMBENT:
Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum (BN-PRS)
Last 05 May, 2013 Election Result
1. Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum
(BN-PRS): 9,891 votes
2. Wong Judat (SWP): 3,936 votes
3. Wong Hong Yu (PR-PKR): 2,852 votes
Majority: 5,955 votes
JULAU Member of Parliament Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum has a sterling record of serving the people in the constituency and is a four-term incumbent by winning the last 2013 general election with a comfortable majority of 5,955 votes. He is also the chairman of the 1Malaysia Sarawak Advisory Council (1MSAC), which was formed in 2013 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak.
Julau comprises the state constituencies of Pakan and Meluan which are represented by Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom (BN Direct) and Rolland Duat Jubin (BN-PDP) respectively. With a pepper cultivation area of approximately 1,954 hectares and a total production of 3,714 metric tons in 2016, it is one of Sarawak’s main pepper growing areas.
processing equipment at the Rumah Segan Anak Jubin, Batu 16, Jalan Pakan / Engkamop, Julau, Sarikei. At left is Datuk
Joseph Salang.
look at the iM Sarawak micro hydro system. Seen (from left) are Tuai Rumah
John Lalong, Tuai Rumah Suing Ensan, micro hydro consultant Belayong
Jampong and Stephen Singkin.
water supply pump at SK Nanga Kara.
For Pakan, the cultivation area of pepper is approximately 1,983 hectares while its 2016 production was 3,769 metric tons. Hence, pepper alone generated an income of some RM127 million for Julau and Pakan districts in 2016, when the price of pepper averaged RM17,000 per metric ton. Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Datu Nasrun Datu Mansur went to Julau in early 2016 to officiate the launching of the Smallholder Farm Road project in Wong Keredat, Ulu Entabai.
The road was built under the rural development project aimed at improving the socio-economic status of the local people to enable them to engage in pepper industry activities as well as to facilitate the mobility of rural people. The farm road is also used as a connecting link for the residents of the area around Wong Keredat, Nanga Sekedang and Jalan Sengaih Keredat with Pekan Pakan and Sarikei.
The rural development projects undertaken by 1MSAC are meant to complement similar efforts. In a recent interview with New Sarawak Tribune, Salang said the 1MSAC members comprise representatives from the Iban community (represented by Salang himself ), the Orang Ulu (Datuk Billy Abit Joo), the Bidayuh (Datuk Anthony Nogeh) and the Malay community (Hasbi Habibollah and Irwan Zulkarnain Muhd Hasbie).
“We identify what are the things that we can do to help the people. The projects are selected based on needs and availability of resources,” he explained. In the case of the micro hydro project, Salang said its success depended on the hydrological power potential of the river in the chosen area. “Then again, we must ask if the local people are interested. They must be prepared to participate in the implementation based on the gotong-royong work concept. “When they are personally involved, it gives them the feeling of belonging and ownership and this will motivate them to protect and maintain the project with greater responsibility for long term benefits.
“The gotong-royong concept helps to significantly reduce the overall expenditures as money is never enough and we try to stretch whatever we have to reach out to more people,” he said. Salang revealed that among the popular projects carried out by the council were micro hydro and treated water supplies. “These are for longhouses, schools and settlement areas not linked by road or connected to the state grid. These isolated rural communities are part of the 1Malaysia community and should not be neglected or left out.
“We must include them in whatever we do, we must be inclusive in the pursuit of national development so that they will stay in the mainstream,” he said. He added that other projects include enhancing rural education, business and sports.
“For UPSR, we have launched a pilot three-year programme for three schools in Julau. We aim to elevate the English language proficiency and improve the overall UPSR passing rate for the school. So far the results have been promising,” he said. Meanwhile he stressed that the council would not want to do everything based on its own ways or methodologies. “That is why we work very closely with all the stakeholders – the people, the local leaders and the government agencies concerned,” he added.
Earlier this year, Salang officiated the opening of a treated water supply for the SK Nanga Kara which benefit more than 70 students and preschoolers. Apart from that, the residents of 14-door of Rumah Suing Ensan, Ulu Kemalih, Julau, now have access to round-the-clock electricity, thanks to the recently completed iM Sarawak micro- hydro generator.
Tuai Rumah Suing Ensan, 67, said the longhouse residents are very grateful to iM Sarawak for the 8KW micro hydro generator. “For many years, we were dependent on individual diesel generators that cost each family between RM250 and RM350 a month for only three to four hours of electricity a night.
“Coupled with the transportation cost of the diesel, it was very costly for us. “The money saved can now be used for our children’s education, house repairs and for purchasing better food,” said Suing. The journey to Rumah Suing Ensan takes 5 hours via a logging road from Sibu town. Longhouse folks including women worked tirelessly to ensure the project was a success. “All of us were excited and passionate about the project and what is even more rewarding was that we get the fruits of our labour firsthand.
“That way, the folks have a sense of ownership towards the project,” he added. Suing said the women folks of the longhouse are now able to carry out traditional activities such as marek empang (beading), tikar weaving and other handicraft work at night.
Not only that, the children of the longhouse now have more time to do their school work and revisions during weekends and public holidays. Suing said the micro hydro generator facilitates the longhouse residents to do various works either during the day or night because they now have access to round-theclock electricity.
Another longhouse resident, Junai Giman, 50, said the provision of 24-hour electricity is making the lives of the longhouse residents much easier. They are now able to use electrical appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators, TV sets, fans, lamps at any time. “We no longer need to do house chores and other activities in the dark,” she said.
