Published: Thursday April 30, 2009 MYT 12:57:00 PM
Updated: Thursday April 30, 2009 MYT 2:04:25 PM

Fulfil promises made to Batang Ai: DPM (Update)

By SHARON LING and JACK WONG

KUCHING: Barisan Nasional must fulfil the promises made to the people of Batang Ai in the recent by-election, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

This included a RM1.5mil allocation for the 150-odd longhouses in the Iban-majority rural constituency approved by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“This money is already in place in Sarawak. I hope it will be spent as quickly as possible to assist the longhouse folks,” said Muhyiddin.

Barisan’s candidate Malcom Mussen Lamoh won with a majority of 1,854 votes over PKR’s Jawah Gerang in the by-election.

Muhyiddin also said the Government needed to look at how to assist the rural folks of Batang Ai, such as creating more job opportunities.

He added the constituency had great potential for eco-tourism, like the scenic Batang Ai Lake and a wildlife sanctuary, but the area needed better accessibility. “If there could be a small airstrip built in a strategic area within Batang Ai, this will allow in more tourists.

“This in turn, will create jobs. The locals can train as guides and at the same time, sell more handicraft products,” he said at a thanksgiving dinner organised by Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) to celebrate Barisan’s Batang Ai victory at Sarawak Club here on Wednesday night.

He added he would to take up the matter with the Prime Minister to see what could be done. Earlier PRS president Datuk Dr James Masing said the cooperation between all four state Barisan component parties had helped ensure the coalition’s victory in the by-election.

“There was no in-fighting or hidden agendas. Our task was made easier with the assistance from other Barisan component parties from Peninsula Malaysia and Sabah,” he said.

Mussen thanked the Barisan leadership for their confidence in him and pledged to serve diligently as the new Batang Ai assemblyman.

In Kota Samarahan, Muhyiddin said the Government would update the process to enable faster delivery of financial aid to natural disaster victims.

He added the National Security Council would study decentralising the delivery system to allow state agencies hand out such compassionate assistance.

’’At the same time, the flood victims need not have to wait for a presentation ceremony as the aid could be given out by representatives of government agencies, or community leaders at the state or divisional levels,” he added during a ceremony to present cash to 1,117 families hit by the recent floods at the Civic Centre here yesterday.

Muhyiddin said the Federal Government had allocated RM420mil to Sarawak,including RM34.1mil as financial aid to the flood victims.

The recipients included 4,112 families who were evacuated; 46,742 families that did not need evacuation, 16,750 farmers and small livestock breeders, 68 families which lost their homes and three families whose loved ones died.

He said another RM154.8mil was to fund rehabilitation works and RM231.1mil for flood preventive programmes.