SIBU: Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) deputy chairman Councillor Wong Ching Yong has called on longhouse chiefs in the Dudong constituency to apply for loans from the Sarawak Housing Development Corporation (HDC) to upgrade and repair their longhouses.
He stressed that longhouses are a vital heritage that should be preserved, while at the same time improving the living standards of residents to ensure they have comfortable homes.
“With the longhouses being aged, upgrading or preserving them is crucial for their continued survival.
“Therefore, I strongly encourage longhouse residents to take this loan, which I believe is not burdensome as it is interest-free,” he said at the Pre-Gawai event organised by the Bumiputera Unit of the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Sibu Jaya and Dudong Branch here on Wednesday (May 22).
The Dudong SUPP chairman said that aside from the loan, longhouse residents can apply for government grants from Dudong assemblyman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing and Lanang MP Alice Lau to upgrade and repair their homes.
“Both service centres of these representatives have allocations for this purpose. In Dudong constituency, 23 longhouses have submitted applications to obtain HDC loans, amounting to approximately RM10mil since October 2020.
“Out of 23, 19 applications with a total loan amount of about RM9.82mil have been approved, while four more applications are still awaiting approval.”
He hoped that more longhouse chiefs in the Dudong constituency can take advantage of the opportunities provided by the Sarawak government.
Also present at the event were William Anut, a political secretary to the Sarawak Premier; Temenggong Stanley Geramong Bandar, chairman of the Bumiputera Unit SUPP Dudong Branch Pemanca Paing Tawi, and chairman of the Bumiputera Unit SUPP Sibu Jaya Branch Councillor Collin Tinting.
