BETONG: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government has provided many types of assistance, including self -improvement and income generating programmes for the people of Sarawak.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Emas said this is because it believed in helping people to migrate to higher living standard.
He said this when launching an Agriculture Department Community Outreach Programme (AgriCOP) at Rh Enteri Lengkoi in Samu, Paku on Sunday (Oct 4).
Uggah pointed out that most of the assistances and programmes were geared towards helping those in rural areas of the state.
“These are essentially the modern agriculture-based activities which include subsidies, the materials and technical inputs, and there are the starting capital or grants, subsidies and aid to cushion the effect of falling commodity prices or the landas season.
“Another recent programme worthy of mention is the introduction of the Kenyalang Gold Card (KGC) for senior citizens to enjoy special privileges and discounts at participating businesses.
“There is even the RM3,000 Death Compassionate Assistance which can be claimed by the next- of-kin of the card holders,” he said.
Uggah revealed that 1,191 out of the 1,339 applications for the card in the Bukit Saban constituency had been approved.
“I am urging more senior citizens to apply for it as the card will have more goodies attached,” he said.
Elaborating further, Uggah stated that the Welfare Department was also offering childbirth incentives and post-natal assistance to mothers as well.
“Then, we have the Unit For Other Religions (Unifor) to help in terms of finance for the construction, repair or renovation of the different houses of worship.
“All these go to show that GPS is a most caring government for Sarawakians, and it is also very committed in protecting the state’s rights and interests.
“Thus, it deserves to be given the mandate to lead the state again after the coming state election.
“Please support all GPS candidates, and forget the opposition for they are only capable of spreading lies and making sweet promises,” he stressed.
On the AgriCOP, Uggah mentioned that it was to inform the people of the modern farming programmes the Agriculture Department was offering to the people.
At the event, Uggah approved 17 fertigation farming units for the 38-door longhouse.
Betong MP, Datuk Robertson Lawson Chuat, who was also present, said the AgriCOP initiative was very popular among the rural folks.
“It gives them the information needed to go into modern farming, and is very beneficial to the farming community,” he said.
