SIMUNJAN: The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) continues to strengthen its rural development agenda through close monitoring of the implementation of the People’s Well-Being Housing Programme (PPRS) throughout Sarawak, particularly in the Batang Sadong parliamentary constituency.
Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Rubiah Wang said her working visit to Simunjan district was aimed at reviewing the progress of public housing projects approved for this year.
According to Rubiah, GiatMARA has been entrusted with implementing four new housing projects in Simunjan District involving an allocation of about RM340,000.
She added that the Simunjan District Office is also acting as an implementing agency through allocations channelled under the Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development.
Rubiah said that several projects had experienced delays due to overlapping recipient lists submitted by different implementing agencies.
“This matter requires further reference to the ministry, and I have been informed that the approval process will take some time. Nevertheless, we will look into the matter at the higher level to expedite the process,” she said when met by the press during her working visit recently.
During the visit, she also inspected two houses in Kampung Kelka and Kampung Tanjung Pisang, which are now nearing full completion.
Although the physical structures have been completed, water and electricity supply facilities are still being prepared to ensure the recipients can move into the houses comfortably in the near future.
On future planning, Rubiah said her ministry has received a list of proposed recipients submitted by the District Office, Members of Parliament and the state assembly representatives to ensure housing projects can be implemented in a more organised and comprehensive manner.
She also assured that additional housing projects in the Batang Sadong area will be implemented in the future, subject to verification and official approval by the ministry.
The visit was also joined by Batang Sadong MP Rodiyah Sapiee.
