Y.B. Dr. Wong Hua Seh: Thank you Tuan Speaker for allowing me to speak on the Motion of Thanks to Excellency Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak on the 21st of June. My speech today mainly confine to problem faced in my constituency Repok. I divide it into 12 headings, Tuan Speaker.
Migration of Young People Out of Sarikei
At the moment, nine out of 10 youngster in Sarikei are moving out of Sarikei to find jobs in other places like timber camp, Miri, Bintulu Kuching, Singapore, West Malaysia. Some of them even move as far as to Africa, Russia, Papua New Gunea. This is mainly due to lack of development in Sarikei such as light industries. To solve part of the problems, I think the government should build trunk road to connecting Sarikei to Tanjung Manis as soon as possible in order to create more jobs opportunity for the Sarikei people. The government should also consider alienating land parcel ranging from ten to hundred acres for young people at affordable price or providing loan for youngsters to enter agriculture sector like medium scale food plantation and vegetables plantation, cocoa, and oil palm plantation.
Pipe Water Supply
Water supply has been a major problem in Sarikei and Tanjung Manis for the pass two years. This has become more serious for the recent past two months especially in rural areas like Merudu, Bulat Road, Kin San Road, Bayong Road, Sungai Rusa, Sungai Barun, Sungai Kisa, Sungai Semaria. These areas have been experiencing continuous no water supply two or three days causing severe hardship to the daily life of local residents. According to the Water Department, it was due to the pump failure but according to other sources the pump failure was mainly due to no constant clearing of mud at the pump sources. Water leakage is also one of the major problem. In 2009, a large pipe with 24 inches diameter was broken causing severe leakage of water flowing like a liver steam. Though the Water Board was informed of the water problem, the Water Board did not repair the leakage immediately. It was only repaired few months later causing, wastage of millions of clean water. However, a few months alter it took a local contractor less than a day to repair. What is the reason of the delay of the pipe repair. Recently the pipe water quality has been very poor, muddy and smelly. Actually I have a sample with me in Sarikei. I forgot t5o bring it. The water catchment area in Sarikei need to be protected from illegal logging which has been going on for many years. I am requesting the relevant authorities to took into this matter urgently and to give top priority to solve this problem because water problem does not only affect Sarikei people, it also affect Tanjung Manis residents which use large quantity f water from Sarikei. The large pipeline connecting Sarikei to Tanjung Manis need to be well maintained to prevent unpredicted leakage as a lot of these pipelines are located within thick bushes in the ground land.
The Central market in Sarikei
The new Central Market was complete at around December 2010 just before the Chinese New Year. Until now no arrangement or steps has taken for the hawkers to move in for their business. I wish to know the number of the hawkers license available in the new market, distribution of the hawkers license among the various races, what is the reason of the delay? I noted that the premises has been used for wedding function and Barisan Nasional election. The other question I wan to ask, who owns and operate the public toilet at the new central market. Has the operation been awarded to any person? Any open tender been called? It is true that they will plan to build two-storey hawker store adjacent to the Central Market. What is the source of fund? If it is going to be awarded to private developer, were there be any open tender call for? If no open tender, what is the reason?
Store Built Along Riverfront of Sungai Nyelong, Sungai Rejang Where
Supposed To Be the Play Ground of The Public
Many stores were built at the above site just before the April 16th General Election without consultation of the Divisional Siting Board. It is very bad for the landscape of Sarikei. Who decided to build the above store? What is the source of building fund? Was there any tender call for the building of the store? Where is the order? What is the building cost of this store? Hoe is it going to be operated in the future?
Sarikei Stop Sport Complex
Sarikei Stop Sport Complex is in very bad condition due to poor or no maintenance. The running track collect water during raining season leaving to fungus growth along the track. The toilet at the complex were not functioning with no proper pipe water supply. It is the only venue for sporting event in Sarikei. Many of the school, divisional or state sport event were held at the venue. It is disgraceful for Sarikei to have a sport complex without proper toilet facilities and poorly maintain venue. I need to stress that, this is also the only sporting ground available for the whole Sarikei community.
Poor Telecommunication Service in Rural Area
Telephone lines were often stolen from rural areas. I think this is not just confined to Sarikei but also rampant in other division. These leads to rural folks, students facing difficulty accessing to internet service for education work or personal purposes. Steps must be taken to prevent theft of telecommunication lines. I think severe punishment need to be proposed to deter the theft.
Low Electricity Voltage in Sarikei
Many rural often from low voltage supply especially during evening time and night time. Though numerous complaints has been reported to local SESCO, so far no action has been taken. SESCO is the only electricity supply in Sarawak and is making money from the people so I urge SESCO to correct this deficiency as soon as possible.
Low Cost Housing
I think supply of low cost housing has always been a big problem throughout Sarawak’s major town. Unfortunately, awarding of low cost houses has not been very transparent in Sarikei. It has always to go through the approval Wakil Rakyat. The quality of low cost houses also become questionable because the final builder were often to third or fourth level of sub contractors. Step must be taken to ensure the quality of low cost houses are maintained and no hanky panky happening during the transaction. May I suggest both Barisan Nasional or an opposition representative from respective constituency be in the low cost housing board so that they only deserve what we wanted the houses and quality to maintained.
Agriculture Subsidies
Sarikei basically is the agriculture town in the past many years. Awarding of subsidy to farmers has not been transparent. Again, in the past all these subsidy need to go to the approval of previous Wakil Rakyat or his representative. Many of the deserving farmers don’t get a single cent subsidy. Especially those regarded as opposition supporters. A lot of subsidies for the rural folks did not reach their hand. For example, q village folk which supposed to have twenty bags of government subsidies fertilizer that were given maybe fifteen bags. I wan to know where has the other five bags gone to? This is mainly due to illiteracy among the rural filks. Steps must be taken to prevent such incident through strict monitoring of government subsidies.
Medical Problems
Neuro-surgical service in Sarawak is confined to Kuching. There is no such service in Sibu and Miri area. So a person who suffers from acute head injury, intra-cranial bleed, acute stroke has no immediate access to appropriate neuro-surgical life saving procedures. I think State Government should request National Health Department to allocate qualified neurosurgeon at respective station in order to perform emergency surgical procedures to decrease loss of precious llife.
Palm Oil Mill in Sarikei
Tuan Speaker4, there ia an urgent need to set up an oil palm mill in Sarikei. At the moment there are at least 10,000 acres of oil palm estates in Sarikei and Bintangor area. Owner of oil palm estates has to transport their harvest long distant away to the outskirt of Sibu and Saratok incurringhigh cost in transportation. I think if there is a mill in Sarikei, this will decrease the cost of transportation and it will also encourage farmers to venture into palm oil plantation in Sarikei.
I think State Government also to take note of the price discrepancy between Miri, Sibu and Sarikei which can run up to RM80 or Rm60 per ton causing significant discontent among these Sibu, Sarikei and Bintangor oil palm owners.
Valuation Department in Sarikei
The next thing I want to touch on is Valuation Department in Sarikei. For the past three years, there is no valuation department in Sarikei. All property transaction for the valuation of property has go to Sibu. It delays. Cause a lot of delay. Times means money for business community, so the delay will cause a lot of loss of money. So I urge this Valuation Department to be reinstated in Sarkei for the benefit of Sarkei community.
The other thing I want to touch is Sungai Baji and Merudu Road. This was misconceived by the Minister the other day because this road ia s major road that detour road, helping to divert the traffic flow from Sarikei town to the Sarikei hospital. Many times Sarikei to Sarikei hospital trunk road will be very congested during peak hours and this seem greatly impede the free flow of ambulance to reach the hospital. This road is a private road. I wish the Sungai Baji and Merudu Road to be upgraded to a public road and this will also help to divert the flow of traffic from Sarkei town to Sarikei hospital.
Therefore, I wish the government will take step to alleviate this problem. Tuan Speaker, we are here to speak for the people. So I hope the problems mentioned above will be given due attention as soon as possible especially the water problem and the Tanjung Manis Road. I think Ahli Yang Berhormat for Belawai will support me especially Tanjung Manis Road and water problem. Tahnk you , Tuan Speaker.
