LAWAS: The Sarawak Government has intensified its urban poverty eradication efforts in Lawas through housing upgrades, improved infrastructure and land policy measures aimed at benefiting low-income residents.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the initiative focuses on Phase 4 of the Settlement Scheme, an older housing area developed by the Land and Survey Department (JTS) that now faces multiple infrastructure problems.
He said limitations in the original design have resulted in damaged roads, burst water pipes and electricity supply that has yet to be fully implemented.
“Regarding electricity supply, JTS has made payment to the Electricity Corporation of Sarawak (ECS), and following discussions at the Divisional Action Committee Meeting, implementation works are expected to begin within two weeks,” he said during a working visit to the urban poverty eradication programme site in Banting here recently.
Awang Tengah added that older settlement schemes only provided basic infrastructure such as earth roads, earth drains, as well as water and electricity supply, unlike newer schemes such as the Permanent Settlement Scheme (SPK), which adopt better specifications including paved or concrete roads and more comprehensive utility facilities.
Meanwhile, he said the Sarawak government has decided to reduce the land premium to about RM2,500, payable in instalments, while the selection of lot recipients will be carried out through a special committee to ensure that only eligible individuals benefit from the scheme.
He stressed that the buying and selling of lots is strictly prohibited, and any transfer of ownership to family members must be made through a formal application to JTS.
He added that to date, 20 new houses have been built in collaboration with the District Council, while through the District Office, 28 new houses have been constructed and 26 houses repaired, in addition to seven houses that received assistance following fire incidents.
During the same visit, Amar Awang Tengah also inspected the site of a new surau under construction in Kampung Banting that has been stalled for more than a year, and urged the contractor to expedite the construction works to ensure the facility can be used by residents in the near future.
