The post GE14 will be interesting year for the people, who will travel through uncharted era which will be filled with hopes and challenges. However, the people must continue to implement the Socio Economic Transformation Program, which emphasises on rural transformation eradication of poverty, closing the development gap and uplift the livelihood of Sarawakians.
In this regard, the people, irrespective of political affiliations must support the development agenda of the state government being led by the Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Johari Tun Openg toward making Sarawak a high income state by 2030. Sarawak, which comprises more than 30 ethnic and sub-ethnic groups, who profess diverse religious beliefs, has always been a model state for racial and religious harmony.
Let no one, including State Legislative Assembly (DUN) members; instigate the people to create tension and cause disunity for short-term political gains. Deputy Chief Minister and Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Minister, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas in his winding speech during the debate on the opening speech of Head of State, Tun Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud in the just concluded DUN sitting, says his ministry committed to transform the agriculture sector into a vibrant, progressive and a new source of wealth for the people, state and country through precision farming, adoption of modern technology, viable value chain and sustainable agricultural practices.
However, he said this transformation program cannot be achieved by the ministry alone and it needs the support and cooperation of all stakeholders especially other government agencies, target groups, landowners and agropreneurs. He called for the support of all DUN members who should be prepared to work together to realise the transformation agenda to eradicate poverty, reduce income disparities, engage the youth and make Sarawak as the net exporter of food product by 2030.
Uggah said the security situation in Sarawak as a whole for the first half of 2018 is well under control. There have been no major issues that involve the security along boundary with Kalimantan Barat or on the land and in the territorial waters. However, the operation and monitoring is being carried continuously by all enforcement agencies namely the army, navy and the air force to ensure the security situation is under control. He said a Border Brigade has been set up to strengthen the border security throughout the state.
The Border Brigade consists of five border Regimental battalions; the brigade is still in the process of filling the posts and expected to be fully operational by 2019. According to him, with the presence of the Border Brigade, the First Infantry Division Malaysia will have four forward operating bases (FOB) each in Pakan, Mabong, Bakun and Long Akah. The Immigration Department Malaysia has submitted a proposal through the Immigration Headquarters in Putrajaya to the Home Affairs Ministry to set up Border Security Post in Telok Melano. Uggah, who is also Bukit Saban Assemblyman, said the proposal to set up Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security (CIQS) Complex in Telok Melano is still being studied by the ministry.
So far, the security between Biawak and Tanjung Datu is handled by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) General Operations Force (GOF) – with 18 personnel posted in Telok Melano. He added the state government, on behalf of the state’s GOF, has planned to station a section comprising 11 personnel to provide the security at Biawak CIQS to monitor activities to smuggle controlled goods through the area. Generally, public security and safety of Sarawak is stable and under controlled. The state’s crime rate from January to June this year shows a drop of 11 percent as compared to the same period last year. However, the government will continue to make efforts to curb crimes to ensure the prosperity and security of the state.
In this connection, the PDRM is actively carrying out diverse prevention initiatives against crimes to preserve the harmony and prosperity of the ‘rakyat’. Uggah noted the proposal to set up a collection, processing and packaging centre (CPCC) in Kapit will be collaboration between a number of state and federal agencies through Federal Agriculture Marketing Board (FAMA) – the state will provide the site while the federal will pay the construction costs.
The project model will be based on the model of development of Medan Niaga Satok in Kuching but will be much smaller in size that will contain Permanent Farmers’ Market (PTK) and collection centre (CC). So far, the proposal to build the Kapit CPCC is still at the planning stage. The state FAMA with the co-operation of Land and Survey Department has identified a site for consideration by the state government. The ministry through the agriculture transformation sector has a program to set up the integrated marketing and distribution network of agricultural products throughout the state.
The setting up of a collection centre for agriculture products requires a proper planning to ensure that it will achieve the objective of the transformation of the agriculture centre. He said his ministry is formulating a master plan for developing the livestock breeding industry for the state, which includes cattle rearing for meat and milk like cows, buffaloes, goats and sheep.
The Deputy Chief Minister added the state Veterinary Services Department has its own program to develop breeding industry aimed to help breeders in their efforts to rear more cows and goats. He said the breeders, who are qualified to be assisted under the ‘Program Lembu Pawah’, ‘Program Kambing Pawah’ and ‘Unit Ternakan Komersial’, will be provided with young cows and goats, which they will pay back within six years (for cows) and goats, during a period of three years.
Uggah said the department, under the commercial breeding program, will provide inputs for the construction of infrastructure and input for the farms that are required for the project. The projects for the meat and milk will be carried out in selected areas based on the suitability of the land, accessibility and marketing. According to him, the state government has identified two new areas for pig farming in Selangau, Sibu and Samarakan, Bintulu.
The people who are interested to do cattle rearing are encouraged to get in touch with the nearest Veterinary Services Department. Up to now, the department is still making the feasibility study in an area in Maluan to be developed as pig farming area. His ministry through the Agriculture Department has prepared a comprehensive plan to manage the rice production activities in Tanjung Purun, Lundu which aims to do double season paddy planting a year in the whole area. He said a management model, which is inclusive of all activities of the value chain, include maintenance of the infrastructure, usage of idle land, supply of quality seeds, management of water, management of plants and farm mechanism.
The implementation plan will commence at the start of paddy planting season. The minister added there are about 150 hectares of lands that have been identified and will be developed for pineapple planting in Beting Maro. A total of 50-hectare is under the Kalaka-Saribas-Betong Integrated Area Development Authority (IADA) while 100 hectares are in Sungai Lamun, which has already being developed under the Pineapple Industry Board Malaysia since 2015. His ministry in finalising a master plan for the pineapple industry in Sarawak towards the year 2030 has conformed the state government’s efforts to make Sarawak a primary producer of pineapples in Malaysia by that year.
Uggah added his ministry is aware of the needs and requests of farmers and gardeners for incentives, assistance and subsidy that are being channeled through various agricultural programs. Hence, his ministry through the Agriculture Department and the Veterinary Service Department has been channeling the assistance and subsidy to breeders and farmers.
He said the federal agencies like Pineapple Industry Board, Pepper Marketing Board, Cocoa Marketing Board and Fisheries Marketing Board have also channel assistance according to their respective programs and projects. The ministry has also identified coconut as a commodity to be further developed to meet the local and exports demand.
The ministry has formulated a master plan to develop the coconut planting industry and the proposal to set up a special board is being studied before the ministry can decide on it. On another note, he said, the Public Works Department (JKR) is carrying out a program to evaluate the conditions of government buildings especially government quarters annually.
Simunjan, based on the valuation report, has been identified as a district that needs more quarters to be built for civil servants. He said a number of project proposals to construct government buildings, which include government quarters, have been submitted to the government for approval.
The projects include the redevelopment of quarters using concrete, which is more conducive for the support group II, to replace the wooden barrack. The Bukit Saban Assemblyman added the state government is very concerned with the welfare, safety and security of natural disaster victims like floods. In this connection, efforts are being made to channel the immediate welfare assistances to them to alleviate their hardship.
The government has spent around RM34.52 million to manage disaster relief matters during the last monsoon season that brought rain and flood at low-lying and flood-prone areas in Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Miri, Sri Aman, Sarikei, Sibu, Kapit, Mukah, Bintulu, Miri and Limbang divisions which occurred from November 16, 2017 to March 20, 2018. Out of that figure, RM26.5 million was spent on repair works at schools, followed by RM4.72 million (welfare), RM1.79 million (repairs on damaged roads due to floods and landslides), RM1.26 million (special donations for evacuees) and RM250,000 (repairs on health clinics). Uggah thanked the DUN members for supporting the government’s efforts to improve the infrastructure and physical facilities in the rural areas through the implementation of the people-centric Rural Transformation Projects (RTP). A total of RM1.54 billion had been allocated for the period of 2015 to 2017, to implement 4,836 RTPs in the state.
As at June 30 this year, a total of 3,929 projects or 81.2 percent of the total number have been completed while the remaining 907 projects are still at various stages of implementation. He acknowledges some shortcomings in the implementation of RTP projects.
Among them are the frequent changes of projects. To date, 2,168 projects or 45 percent of the total 4,836 projects involved changes in project scope, cost and location. He said the state government, recognising these shortcomings, is taking various initiatives to strengthen RTP management.
This includes revamping certain implementation Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). Among the initiatives are the establishment of dedicated RTP Units in JKR Divisional Offices comprising ‘RTP Unit with Design Function’ in three major divisions (Kuching, Sibu and Miri) and RTP Unit without Design Function’ in other divisions. The RTP Unit with Design Function will provide design services to neighboring divisions, defined by JKR’s Regional Boundary, will only handle projects of value less than RM2 million each. The RTP Unit without Design Function will focus on project management.
This involves delegation of authority of some JKR Headquarters functions to the Divisional Offices. He stressed the increase in the number of technical personnel in JKR Divisional and District Offices should be able to strengthen its capacity.
The creation of 239 professional/technical posts on ‘Jawatan Berasaskan Caruman’ (JBC) basis has been approved by the state government. The approved posts consist of 86 Engineers Grade J41, six Architects Grade J41, 12 Quantity Surveyors Grade J41, 99 Assistant Engineers Grade JA29, 24 Draughtsman/Assistant Architect Grade JA29 and 12 Assistant Quantity Surveyor Grade JA29 for a contract period of two years.
Apart from that, Uggah said the state government takes note of the DUN members concern on the quality of RTP projects. In this regard, he said an Audit Committee will be established to constantly monitor and audit the work processes and decisions to ensure the good Corporate Governance is complied with.
He said all DUN members should also consider undertaking a more forward planning exercise for their proposed projects by establishing projects bank in their respective constituencies and to minimise changes to projects which had been approved. He added the Abang Johari has already announced the annual allocation for the Unit for Other Religions (UNIFOR) to assist the Non-Islamic religious institutions to construct and repair Houses of Worship.
The Chief Minister deserved to be thanked for his support and blessing to the Unit A total of RM15 million was approved in 2017 for the construction and repair of 77 Houses of Worship, out of which 25 projects have been completed while the rest are in various stages of implementation. For 2018, an amount of RM32.3 million has been approved. As at May 2018, RM15.87 million has been disbursed to 206 Houses of Worship.
The balance of allocation will be disbursed in the second phase of this year. In addition, the state government has also approved three acres of state land in Jalan Ong Tiang Swee for the construction of UNIFOR complex; and the creation of Sarawak Unit for Other Religions Charitable Trust on March 29, 2018 aimed at looking after the well-being of the non-Islamic community in the state.
He said the formation of UNIFOR Religious Advisory Committee is being finalised with its main function to give advice, recommend solutions to the government on any religious problems, issues or conflicts in the state. This committee comprises of leaders from the non-Islamic religious groups.
