RES project lights up four longhouses in Tg Upar

MARUDI (Jan 19): Residents of four longhouses in Tanjung Upar here can now enjoy 24-hour electricity supply following the completion of a Rural Electrification Scheme (RES) project costing RM7.1 million.

Deputy Minister in Sarawak Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Datuk Gerawat Gala said the project reflected the state government’s commitment to ensuring that basic amenities would reach the rural and interior areas, regardless of distance or logistical challenges.

“This is a historic day for the residents of Rumah Vincent (Kiu), Rumah Philip Bayu, Rumah Mugang and Rumah Jipun, after a long wait for continuous electricity supply,” said the Mulu assemblyman in officiating at the inauguration of the new electricity facilities at Rumah Vincent on Sunday.

Adding on, Gerawat commended the leadership of longhouse chieftain TR Vincent Kiu and the strong cooperation shown by residents, describing it as ‘a reflection of effective grassroots leadership – all supportive of the government’s development efforts’.

Separately, Gerawat said the proposal to relocate flood-affected residents to higher ground was still being pursued.

In relation to this, he said it was made known later that an earlier proposed site overlapped with a privately-owned land.

On matters related to clean water supply, he said they would be handed over to the Highland Development Agency (HDA) for further evaluation.

At the event in Rumah Vincent, Gerawat also announced several allocations for the longhouse including RM3,000 per household to assist eight families in improving their units; RM5,000 under the Minor Rural Project (MRP) grant for the construction of a concrete path to the river through ‘gotong-royong’ (work party); RM7,000 for Rumah Vincent village security and development committee (JKKK); and RM4,000 for the Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (SIDS) unit of Rumah Vincent to purchase ceiling fans for the ‘ruai’ (longhouse’s common area).

Gerawat also said in view of the longhouse still under construction, he encouraged the residents to apply for longhouse housing loans from the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) to help ease the cost in purchasing building materials.