MIRI: The state government has continued its electrification project via the Rural Electrification System (RES) to longhouses in the northern area.
Yesterday, Utilities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom travelled to Rumah Alo Riang which is a two-hour drive from Miri to launch another project carried out under RES at Rumah Alo Riang in Sungai Dulang, Ulu Suai here.
With the electrification project completed at the end of October last year, it has benefited nearly 80 residents of the 21-door longhouse.
Prior to the project’s completion, Rumah Alo Riang was using a generator to help light up the longhouse for the past few years.
The project is fully funded by the state government with Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) as the implementing agency.
“It is part of the Sarawak government’s effort to provide electricity to areas without it, especially those in the rural areas,” said Dr Rundi who is Kemena assemblyman.
The RES project implemented at Rumah Alo Riang costs RM1.4 million.
With the success of the project, it means that a total of seven projects have been implemented under RES which involved 187 households in the Subis district, along with a cost amounting to RM11million.
Four projects are underway in Suai, Niah while two are in the planning stages under the Rural Electrification Masterplan.
Meanwhile, the longhouse of Rumah Alo Riang expressed his gratitude to the state government for the project.
“All these years, we have been living without electricity and this RES project has benefitted the villagers,” he said.
“We finally see the light,” he said.
Accompanying Dr Rundi at the launch were SEB vice president for rural electrification Dr Chen Shiun and Utilities Ministry electricity supply director Syed Mohd Fauzi Shahab.
