Engkilili assemblyman Johnical Rayong Ngipa has called for urgent upgrades to healthcare facilities and rural schools in his constituency, saying residents in remote areas continue to face long travel times and ageing public infrastructure.
He said Engkilili Health Clinic remains a Type 3 clinic despite serving a wide rural catchment area, with limited numbers of doctors and nurses available.
He said this in his debate speech on the motion of appreciation to the Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar’s address at the DUN Sitting today (May 13).
Rayong said residents from Ulu Engkilili and Ulu Skrang currently need up to two hours of travel to reach the clinic for treatment.
He urged the government to upgrade the clinic and increase medical staffing, particularly doctors, to better meet the needs of the growing population.
He also called for stronger and expanded mobile healthcare services for longhouses located in remote areas without proper road access.
At the same time, he said Skim Skrang Health Clinic should also be upgraded and expanded as both facilities were no longer able to cope with the number of patients due to ageing buildings and limited capacity.
“The two clinics are strategic facilities because they serve as referral centres for surrounding villages and longhouses in the Skrang area,” he said.
On public safety, Rayong said the proposed Engkilili Fire and Rescue Station had yet to be constructed despite funding already being approved.
He said the project was originally scheduled for implementation last year and urged the authorities to expedite construction, describing it as a matter involving the safety of lives and property.
Touching on education, Rayong expressed appreciation to the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government for introducing free tertiary education for Sarawakian students.
However, he said several schools in Engkilili still required urgent attention due to deteriorating conditions.
He proposed for SK Skrang Kem to be included in the dilapidated school redevelopment programme, particularly to replace old and worn classroom blocks.
Rayong said the school plays an important role as an education centre for several longhouses in the Skrang Kem area due to its strategic location within a densely populated settlement zone.
He also appealed for SK Skrang Kem and other schools in Engkilili to be prioritised in the next phase of rural school upgrading initiatives.
