KUCHING: Realising the drastic differences of commodity prices between the cities and remote areas in six states especially Sarawak, the government has allocated RM200 million to implement the Essential Commodity Distribution Programme via Community Drumming or known as the Price Standardisation Programme.
Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said, under this programme, the people from the remote or rural areas will enjoy the same standard prices of seven commodities as sold in the cities.
“The essential commodities are sugar, wheat flour for normal use/not normal use, palm oil for cooking, white rice, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) petrol RON95 and diesel.
“From the RM200 million, about RM125 million or more than 62 per cent is to implement this programme in Sarawak that will benefit 500,000 people in the state involving 112 zones covering 538 distribution areas,” Ismail said.
Ismail said that in his speech at the Closing of the “Jelajah Aspirasi Keluarga Malaysia Programme” at Dataran Perayaan Petra Jaya here Sunday.
Ismail congratulated the Malaysian Family of Sarawak especially to the Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari for the unity and the harmony that have been successfully maintained in the state.
“I am also confident the target to make Sarawak as a developed state before 2030 will be achieved under the leadership of the honourable Premier,” Ismail said.
Meanwhile the Prime Minister also recorded his happiness and proud of the successes reaped by Sarawak youths with the latest Bonnie Bunyau Gustin who won gold medal in the power lifting under 72 kg. in the Commonwealth Games Birmingham 2022 besides Datuk Pandelela Rinong who had consistently popularised Malaysia at the international sports stage.
In another development, Ismail mentioned the RM4.09 billion allocation under the 12th Malaysia Plan (MP) to ensure the internet coverage will reach Malaysian Family as a whole in Sarawak before 2030.
He added the launching of the recent eight national MEASAT-3d costing around RM1.2 billion will increase the speed of the existing internet reach and subsequently will narrow the digital gap between the city and rural people.
“The government hopes after this no more Malaysian Family will be forced to climb a tree or build a tent on the hill just to get internet coverage,” Ismail said.
Referring to the electricity supply, Ismail said, the government had built the third hydroelectricity generator station in Sarawak, Baleh Hydroelectric Project (HEP) in the remote area of Kapit that is scheduled to be completed in 2025.
“The dam with the capacity of 1,295 MegaWatt (MW) will supply the demand of hydroelectricity to the nearby areas besides creating 3,500 jobs for the local people.
“The government is also committed to solve the floods problem in the country and had allocated RM15 billion for eight years from 2023 until 2030 under 12thMP.This includes the flood barrier project in Sarawak for the Sibu Flood Barrier Plan (Phase 3) Lembangan Batang Rajang,” Ismail said.
The Pan Borneo Highway worth RM16.1 billion that was launched in March 2015 is currently 85 per cent completed and is scheduled to be fully completed in the first quarter of 2023. The government will also continue the Phase 2 Sarawak Sabah Link Road Project (SSLR) that will connect Miri to Limbang and Lawas without passing Brunei.
However Ismail added, the Phase 2 SSLR Project from Simpang Gelugus to Long Lopeng in Lawas will connect Mulu till Long Merarap for 326 km. incurring the cost of RM7.68 billion.
“The building is expected to start early next year . The government is also upgrading the existing highways networks between Miri to Limbang and Lawas via Brunei under Trans Borneo Highway Project (LTB) involving the uplifting works involving the distance of 96.351km for three years costing RM2.93 billion,” Ismail reiterated –Malaysia World News
