Posted on April 4, 2011, Monday
MIRI: The residents of Marudi want more development and a government that can look after the welfare of the people and the future generation instead of free calendars.
This was pointed out by State Assistant Minister of Public Utilities Sylvester Entri Muran who was referring to the presence of opposition party members at the Sungai Liam Lepung Ajai in the Marudi district recently to distribute 2011 calendars.
The distribution of the calendars was meaningless to the villagers concerned who already enjoyed various development implemented by the Barisan Nasional (BN) government, he said.
“Residents of Rumah Chabu, comprising 57 families, do not want a new year calendar from the opposition, but want a government that can look after their welfare and that of their children and grandchildren.
“We don’t give such things, but we give them something that will benefit them in the future,” he said when addressing about 500 residents of the Rumah Chabu and Rumah Ramba in the Marudu state constituency, about three hours’ boat ride from Miri.
Entri, the incumbent Assemblyman for Marudi, said the opposition only knew how to criticise the government although they were incapable of looking after the welfare of the people, especially those living in the interior areas.
He said the opposition only appeared during the election to make all kinds of promises, but they were never around after the election.
He said the longhouse community today were smarter and were not easily deceived by the tactics of the opposition.
“If the opposition is proud of the popular Dayak slogan ‘Agi Idup, Agi Ngelaban’ (fight as long as we live), we in the BN want to use “Agi Idup, Agi Mansang” (strive for progress, as long as we live), because that is our struggle in the BN to develop the state,” he said.
In the 2006 state election, Entri defeated Telajan Luyoh from Sarawak National Party (SNAP) with a 4,284-vote majority.
This time around, SNAP president Edwin Dundang is said to be keen to try his luck in Marudi which has 13,093 voters with the majority comprising the Iban community besides Kenyah, Berawan, Kiput, Penan, Malays, Chinese and several other ethnic groups.
A resident of Sungai Limam, Makum ak Antan, 57, a farmer, said the government had provided numerous amenities to the residents in Marudi such as roads, electricity and water supply.
He said the government also provided more economic opportunities to the locals such as in the fields of agriculture through the cultivation of oil palm and rubber.
“We are touched by the government’s concern in rebuilding our longhouses which were destroyed in the fire two years ago. This is what we want, not the presence of the opposition who only distribute calendars,” he said.
Another farmer, Sugi ak Badie, 55, said the standard of living of the people had improved compared to 10 years ago and the average monthly income of the people had also increased to between RM1,500 and RM2,000 derived from the sale of oil palm and rubber besides other fruit crops.
“The government had developed numerous basic amenities in this area including the 1.5 kilometre stretch of road linking us to the Miri-Bintulu main road which made it convenient for us to market our agricultural produce to Miri city,” he said.
Senok Garog, 40, who works in the petroleum industry in Miri, said only the BN government could help the rural dwellers who still needed assistance.
“Of course development is necessary. The rural dwellers cannot be excluded from enjoying basic amenities. That’s why we need a strong government,” he said.
Another resident Lee Hung Kie, 42, said the people of Marudi hoped the construction of the road linking Marudi and Miri could be speeded up.
He said the people currently were using the rivers for transport through Batang Baram from Miri to Marudi besides using air transport (Twin Otter-Mas Wing) and oil palm estate roads stretching about 54 kilometres.
“Land transport is important and we are still using the oil palm estate roads which can only be used by four-wheel-drive vehicles,” he said.
The Marudi district is famous for water sports known as the Baram Regatta which was first held on April 9 and 10, 1899 involving the long boat race. — Bernama
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