SIBU: A total of 320 homeowners in the Rejang Park housing area here received compensation in the form of cheques amounting to RM960,000 today from the government for their initiative to install their own septic tanks after the central sewage system in the area suffered serious damage over the past years.
Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Datuk Michael Tiang Ming Tee, said the subsidy of RM3,000 for each house owner was the result of a struggle of almost 10 years to defend the fate of residents who had to bear the cost of repairing the basic facilities themselves.
“I started receiving complaints in 2015 when I was just an ordinary SUPP member looking after this area.
“At that time, the underground sewage system shared by 345 houses and 32 commercial lots was too old, causing serious sanitation problems,” he told reporters after officiating the compensation cheque presentation ceremony.
Tiang who is also the Pelawan Assemblyman, said that after complaints were collected, including petitions from residents, the matter was brought to the then Chief Minister of Sarawak, the late Tok Nan.
“In 2018, I resubmitted this proposal to the Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg when he visited Sibu. I stated that we needed RM3 million to solve this problem, and he agreed because he considered it as an urgent issue,” he shared.
Although the project started in 2019, he pointed out its implementation was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our close cooperation with the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) finally enabled the project to be completed,” he added.
After the project has been completed, he also received appeals from other residents who had installed septic tanks privately earlier and requested that the government also help them.
“When I was elected in 2021 as Pelawan Assemblyman, I did not forget my promise to them. It took three years to find a suitable mechanism to provide subsidies to them.
“Finally, last year I submitted the proposal to the Premier, and he approved an allocation of RM960,000 for 320 houses,” he said.
Tiang, a lawyer by profession, said he was very grateful that the decade-long mission had finally been realised.
“I thank our Premier for his concern. This project will not only solve the problem of cleanliness, but also create a more comfortable and healthy environment for the community,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, he also informed that his ministry is currently in discussion with the Sarawak Housing and Estate Developers Association (SHEDA) to introduce a star rating system for housing developers, as a measure to protect consumer rights.
“The aim is to inform the public about the quality level of developers, whether one star or five stars. So that they can make a smarter decision before buying a house,” he said.
“This system will be published online on the official websites of the ministry and SHEDA to facilitate checking.
“It is also a reminder to developers not to just think about profit. You are dealing with the people’s hard-earned money, perhaps the only house they can afford in their lifetime.
“So, fulfill your promises and carry out your responsibilities honestly,” he pointed out.
