SUNGAI ASAP: The Sarawak government will study a proposal to upgrade Sungai Asap sub-district into a full district.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the State Secretary Office would conduct a study on the matter.
“We will see what their recommendation is in terms of the boundary and also the places that need to be included in the district. And of course, the infrastructure must also be considered,” he said at a Leader-with-the-people programme here on Sunday (Nov 28).
He said this in response to a list of 10 requests from the locals which were presented by Murum incumbent assemblyman Kennedy Chukpai Ugon earlier.
“I will study these 10 requests – when the mandate is given to me and my colleagues,” he said, explaining that at this time he had no power as the mandate had been given back to the people to choose their state government.
“If the people support Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), then we can continue our existing plans for Sungai Asap and Belaga,” he assured.
At the event, he announced an additional sum of RM3 million for the Belaga District Sports Stadium which was approved last year.
Belaga incumbent Datuk Liwan Lagang had earlier requested for additional funds due to the increased cost of construction materials, which rendered the previous allocation insufficient.
And responding to Chukpai’s appeal, Abang Johari said the remaining approximately 100km of farm road to the 2,917 agricultural lots in Bakun Resettlement Scheme (BRS) in Sungai Asap would be developed by Upper Rajang Development Agency (URDA).
Chukpai said this farm road had been an issue since moving in 1999 to BRS Sungai Asap, whereby residents could not fully cultivate their agricultural lots due to the lack of access.
He noted that 60km of the road had already been constructed by the state government, and thus appealed to the chief minister to approve allocations to construct the remaining 103km stretch with an estimated cost of RM260 million as this access was long-awaited by the people here.
Abang Johari said he would also look into the rest of the requests presented by Chukpai, including the request for Village Expansion Schemes (SPKs) for 15 villages in BRS Sungai Asap as well as Apau Koyan Resettlement Scheme (SPS) and Kampung USK Sungai Asap SPS.
Chukpai said this was much needed in view of the increase in residents at BRS Sungai Asap.
“We request for SPK for 15 villages in BRS Sungai Asap with 3,000 lots, Apau Koyan SPS with 850 lots, and Kampung USK Sungai Asap SPS with 202 lots to be implemented immediately in order to resolve this issue,” he said.
He also called for an additional three acres of agricultural land for each head of household in BRS Sungai Asap, noting that the Land and Survey Department (JTS) Kapit Division had identified a 6,400-acre area as a proposed site for this agricultural land pending the state government’s approval.
He hoped Abang Johari would approve a waiver for all water bill arears of BRS Sungai Asap residents from 2007 to this year, amounting to RM4.5 million.
“The issue of clean water supply in BRS Sungai Asap started since moving in 1999, with uncertain water supply and quality. So since 2007, the average resident has not paid their water bill for these reasons,” he explained, noting that supply was now more stable due to the state government’s initiative to upgrade the water treatment plant at BRS Sungai Asap.
