Uggah slams Agro Bank for delay in reopening Spaoh branch

KUCHING (Aug 10): Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah has expressed his indignation over Agro Bank’s indecision to reopen its branch in Spaoh.

The Bukit Saban assemblyman pointed out the indecision had deprived the people here of a very essential service.

As the elected representative for the area, he said he had met community leaders who expressed their disappointment over the matter.

The nearest bank from Spaoh is in Betong town, some 32km away.

“The branch was closed down when the old sub-district office where it was located needed to be demolished to make way for a new office a few years ago.

“The new office is now ready and the community here expected the bank to reopen its branch.

“But sadly, this has yet to happen and they are still waiting,” he said in a statement today.

Uggah said he and Betong MP Dr Richard Rapu had done their part in getting the branch to reopen, adding that he had a number of discussions with officers from the bank, while Dr Richard had also raised the matter in the parliament sitting.

“We even offer them a place. The bank officers had requested one of the Betong government agencies to have a fixed deposit account at the bank.

“So the Betong District Council had a few years ago deposited RM2 million in compliance with the condition for the reopening.

“But sad to say until now nothing has materialised… no follow-up,” he said.

Uggah added initially the bank officers proposed the reopening of the branch in one of the shoplots in Spaoh.

“They then also suggested doing so in the new sub-district office. They even scouted for a possible site at the Community Digital Centre and at the new Spaoh market.

“An offer too was made to them to take up a space at one of the new shop lots, even at the extent of reduced monthly rental or no rent at all.

“But there is still no decision. So I am appealing to Agro Bank, please stop the dilly dally as there are office spaces available,” he said.

Uggah also urged the bank to resolve whatever problems they might be facing, which had caused the issue, promptly.

“This is afterall not about opening up a new branch but reviving an former one,” he added.

Meanhile, Uggah who is on his weekly visit to his constituency earlier visited a pilot greenhouse project at the SMK Spaoh.

He was happy to note that the fertigation project had developed well with vegetables and chilly planted.

“This is actually meant to be a showcase of modern farming to the folks here.

“I hope the school authority can do hydroponic farming as well. I do my best to support this undertaking,” he said.