Meradong YB Datuk Ding Kuong Hiing State Assembly speech

suppadmin | May 16, 2017

RUU 355

I wish to applaud the firm and positive stance taken by BN Sarawak under the leadership of our Chief Minister YAB DATUK AMAR ABANG HAJI ABDUL RAHMAN ZOHARI BIN TUN DATUK ABANG HAJI OPENG on the above matter. This goes to show our determination to upkeep the high level of racial, cultural and religious tolerance that have proved to be the key factors that have kept us together as a closely knit family more than half a century ago. We trust that our state government will continue to safeguard the interest of all Sarawakians not only in defending our rights and privileges but also in ensuring that unity, peace and harmony among all races to be upheld at all times.

UEC in Civil Service

Sarawak boasts the most number of Chinese Independent Schools in the country and I wish to thank our late Chief Minister Tok Nan for taking the initiative and our New Chief Minister YAB Datuk Amar Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg in supporting to champion the cause of UEC in giving due recognition and yearly grant and agreeing to recruit UEC holders into the State civil service. However, the result of the later leaves a lot to be desired with, as to my knowledge there is only one UEC holder being recruited so far.

Therefore, steps must be taken by relevant parties concerned to ensure that the recruitment of UEC holders into our civil service can really take off. This can further enhance the good name of Sarawak Government as far as pioneering the recognition of UEC is concerned, not to mention many of our government agencies are facing severe shortage of mandarin speaking officers which can create an unfriendly atmosphere to those not so fluent Bahasa Malaysia speaking seniors.

IPG Kampus Rajang

The fate of the one and only Institute of Higher Education in Meradong is of grave concern to her people. IPG Kampus Rajang (formerly known as Rajang Teachers College) was founded in 1966 by a joint venture between the Government of Malaysia and the Government of New Zealand with a site area of 32.3 hectares. The construction cost of RM1.5 million was funded jointly under the Colombo Plan and Rajang Teachers College was officially launched on 31 October 1967 by Tun Abang Haji Openg bin Sapiee, the then Sarawak Governor and the late father of our Chief Minister YAB Datuk Amar Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg.

A college with a rich history has, over the years, produced thousands of qualified and competent teachers providing quality education to many people throughout the country.

Recently IPG Kampus Rajang has been tasked with being the centre for Iban Language Studies in Sarawak due to its ideal location where hundreds of longhouses can be easily accessible for hands-on cultural understanding and perfect training facilities to aspiring Iban Language Teachers.

Therefore, I would like to urge our newly appointed Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research and State Government in particular our Chief Minister, to fight against any intention to close down the said college.

Provision of State Land for Agricultural Purpose

Over the years I have received a lot of complaints regarding the lack of land for small holders to engage in agricultural activities in Meradong, especially amongst the Chinese community. Unlike their native counterparts, they do not enjoy the usage of NCR land to actively engage in farming activities in a bigger scale. Meradong Farmers’ Association has over 300 members and for years has tried to apply for suitable state land for their members for that purpose.

Also, in line with the great potential for Sarikei Division and in particular, Meradong District, to develop into Food Basket of Sarawak, I strongly urge the Sarawak Government to consider alienate some state land to the Farmers Association so that they can actively participate in fulfilling its potential.

Taman Kekal Pengeluaran Makanan

This scheme has been successfully implemented in Miri and Bau and I have no doubt Meradong can be another location where the scheme can prosper as majority of population in Meradong are farmers. Therefore I strongly urge the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development to look into our request favourably.

Proposed Construction and Completion of Jalan Ng Bangkit/Muara Lebaan to Jalan Tg Manis

I wish to further remind this August House that the above project had been announced during the visit of the late Tok Nan, our former Chief Minister during his visit to Bintangor on the 6th of March 2016. The “missing link” measuring about 6 km, when connected, will link Meradong, Semop and Daro to Tg Manis which can definitely boost the economy of the areas.

Considering the relatively low outlay and the high impact of the project, it is definitely worthwhile project to invest in.

KK and KM Appointments

It is of great frustration to note that the appointment of KK and KM in Meradong District is facing long delays and uncertainties. Some of the posts had been vacated long time ago and the people are having hard times to look for their local leaders in times of need. I would, therefore, urge the authorities concerned to look into the matter urgently so that all the vacant posts can be filled and expired posts can be renewed as soon as possible.

Street Lightings

Street lightings has always been a popular request from the people, be it in urban or rural areas. The street lightings along Paradom/Bintangor Road, Pasi/Meradong Road, housing estates, kampungs and longhouses are always in great demand but unfortunately it always involves long waits and when finally approved are too few to go by.

May I suggest that all existing street lightings to be changed to LED light bulbs gradually and the savings on electricity bill can be ploughed back to install more street lightings in strategic locations.

RTP Funds

I wish to thank the government for granting us the RTP projects to be implemented in our respective kawasan. However, we find it hard to cope with the number of requests from the ground especially when my kawasan had been side-lined for 15 years. Since the funding is limited it is vital that all the projects must be people centric and any maintenance of government buildings must come from separate government allocations.

JBALB

I wish to thank KKLW for approving a water rectification project along Pasi/Meradong Road, which when finished, will provide pipe water supply to 3 longhouses, namely, Rh Jang, Rh Regina and Rh Peter and other housing estates along the road. The new 280mm diameter pipelines will be connected to existing water pipe at Jambatan Nyelong No. 1 and if it is further extended towards Bintangor Town, will provide an alternative water supply main to Bintangor Town and solve the long standing low water pressure in the town areas.

Also I was informed by JBALB Sarikei that the Proposed Improvement and Upgrading Works to Existing 280mm Diameter HDPE Pipe of 17 KM Pumping Main Along KJD Road had been approved by the ministry concerned but unfortunately the project was put on hold due to the Implementation of Pan Borneo Highway along the said stretch of road.

I would, therefore, like to appeal to the Minister of Public Utilities to look into the said project urgently and hopefully can revive the project so as to solve the water supply woe along KJD roads where we have DI pipelines been installed along Jalan Sg. Lemayong many years ago but to date the longhouse people still can only ‘Tengoh Sahaja’ among many other poor water rectification problems.

As a whole, Meradong District has always been having water supply problems and since the supply of treated water from Temudak Treatment Plant in Bintangor and Bayong Treatment Plant in Sarikei are more than capable to supply the required volume to cater for the need of Meradong people, I can’t see why we cannot rectify the problem sooner.

Telecommunication Towers

With the development of new fixed land lines in Meradong area being stopped for quite a while, people from Meradong are relying on the mobile phone for telecommunication and internet services.

However, the services of Telcos in Meradong leave a lot to be desired of. Many areas in Meradong District are facing weak or no signal most of the time. Therefore the people of Meradong are looking forward to the upgrading of ICT in Sarawak and Meradong in particular, as recently announced by our Chief Minister.

Chief Minister

Sarawakians are very receptive and grateful to our visionary Chief Minister for his many proposed high profile projects which includes Digital Economy, DBOS, LRT, Upgrading of ICT and others. Let us all rally behind him and give him all the support so that, together, we can realise our dream soonest.