Katibas rep calls for unified association to drive development, strengthen community voice in Sg Rassau, Btg Igan
(From left) Lau, Gerald, Lidam, and Romeo in a picture, taken at the Randau Pemansang Programme at Rumah Salim Unang, Sungai Rassau.
SIBU (April 27): Residents in the Sungai Rassau and Batang Igan area have been encouraged to form a unified association to effectively channel development-related matters to the Sarawak government.
In stating this, Katibas assemblyman Lidam Assan said the proposed association would serve a broader purpose than the current Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK) which typically represented individual longhouses.
Instead, he said this association would represent all longhouses in the Rassau area collectively, allowing for more coordinated planning and communication.
'The Rassau area holds significant potential for agricultural development, particularly for rice cultivation or shrimp farming.
'All these plans, however, require the residents of Rassau to unite under the banner of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), to support the area's transformation,' he said in his speech during the 'Randau Pemansang' programme here on Friday.
Organised by the JKKK of Rumah Salim Unang, Sungai Rassau, Batang Igan Tengah, the event was graced by Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu.
Also present at the event was a political secretary to the Premier of Sarawak and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Bawang Assan branch chief Romeo Christopher Tegong and Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) Bawang Assan branch chairman Councillor Kevin Lau.
Lau highlighted the significance of the programme in disseminating accurate and timely information to the community, while also serving as a platform to reinforce unity across the diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds. Batang Igan lead Lidam Assan Sungai Rassau unified association
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
2 days ago
- Borneo Post
Bung Moktar calls for more inclusive implementation of People's Income Initiative
Bung during his recent visit to Tawau Market. KOTA KINABALU (June 6): Kinabatangan Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin has raised concerns over the implementation of the People's Income Initiative (IPR), saying it remains inadequate in addressing the pressing needs of rural communities in Sabah. He pointed out that although the IPR is a key policy under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) and was well-intended, its on-ground execution in the state's interior has yet to reach the level needed to make meaningful impact. 'Sabah's hardcore poverty rate stands at 1.2 per cent, six times higher than the national average of 0.2 per cent. This is not just a statistic, but a stark indicator of the developmental gap that persists,' he said in a statement today, after visiting Tawau Market recently. Bung stressed that many Sabahans, particularly single mothers, the elderly and youth in rural areas, continue to live in hardship due to limited access to opportunities and targeted assistance. He urged the Ministry of Economy to restructure the delivery of the IPR so that it becomes more inclusive and better aligned with the unique realities faced by Sabah's rural population. He also proposed that in-person outreach initiatives be prioritised, involving physical engagements at community halls, schools, places of worship and other grassroots centres, in close collaboration with village heads, the Village Development and Security Committees (JKKKs) and local NGOs. 'The government must go to the people, not the other way round,' he said. Bung added that federal policies like the IPR must be tailored to reflect the actual context of communities on the ground, taking into account geographical challenges, cultural differences and economic limitations specific to Sabah. 'It is time the government stops viewing Sabah merely as the poorest state, and instead begins recognising it as a strategic development partner capable of making a significant contribution to the nation's future,' he said. 'I believe that with a strengthened and well-targeted implementation of the IPR, Sabah can break free from the cycle of poverty and move towards a more prosperous future,' he added.
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Active outreach needed for People's Income Initiative to have real impact in Sabah, says Bung
KOTA KINABALU: The People's Income Initiative (IPR) must be brought directly to rural communities instead of expecting the poor to find their way to government aid, says Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin. The Kinabatangan MP stressed that effective outreach, not passive delivery, must drive the implementation of the programme in Sabah's interior. ALSO READ: People's Income Initiative to continue under 13MP, says Rafizi He added that the IPR is a commendable federal policy launched in 2023 and scheduled to continue under the 13th Malaysia Plan, but its impact in Sabah has been limited because of a lack of on-the-ground engagement. 'The government must go to the people, not the other way around. 'Outreach programmes should be the backbone of IPR in Sabah. "This includes face-to-face engagement in community halls, schools, houses of worship and local centres, involving village heads, village development and security committee (JKKK), non-governmental organisations and other grassroots networks,' the Sabah Barisan Nasional chief said in a statement on Friday (June 6). ALSO READ: IPR participants expected to get out of poverty in two years, says Rafizi Bung Moktar pointed out that Sabah's hardcore poverty rate currently stands at 1.2%, six times higher than the national average of 0.2%. This reflects the daily struggles, especially those of single mothers, the elderly and youth in rural Sabah, who are eager to improve their lives but trapped by limited access and opportunity. 'People here are not lazy. They are simply cut off from programmes that could help them. It is not enough to just roll out a policy; we must make sure it reaches the right hands,' he added. Bung Moktar urged the Economy Ministry to restructure the IPR delivery mechanism by taking into account Sabah's unique geographical, cultural and socioeconomic landscape. ALSO READ: Govt to meet local authorities to speed up IPR He also called on the Federal Government to see Sabah not as a lagging region but as a strategic development partner that can significantly contribute to national progress if treated equitably. 'The success of IPR in Sabah would not come from centralised announcements. It will come from real presence, real conversations, and real inclusion,' he said. He believes that with a people-first approach, IPR can help lift many Sabahans out of the cycle of poverty towards a just and sustainable future.
Borneo Post
2 days ago
- Borneo Post
Nanta hands over appointment letters to 46 community leaders in Song District
Lidam Assan (third left) presents a Letter of Appointment to the Ketua Kampung of Gelam Song, Hossein Damin as others look on. KAPIT (June 6): Minister for Works and Kapit MP Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi on Thursday afternoon presented Letters of Appointment to 46 community leaders (KMKK) in the Song District during a ceremony held at the Song District Office meeting room. Among the recipients were 34 Tuai Rumah and Ketua Kampung, along with one Penghulu and one Pemanca, who received renewal letters for continued service. Ten newly appointed Tuai Rumah also received their appointment letters. In appreciation of their service, eight outgoing community leaders who had reached the mandatory retirement age of 76 were presented with certificates of appreciation. Nanta congratulated both the reappointed and newly appointed leaders, urging them to serve with integrity and dedication. 'For the newly appointed community leaders, you were chosen by the people because they believe you are capable of leading. I urge all of you to work closely with government agencies, the District Officer, and elected representatives such as Katibas assemblyman Lidam Assan and myself, to drive development in your respective villages,' he said. During the same event, Nanta and Lidam each contributed RM30,000 to the Song District Community Leaders' Association to support its ongoing activities. They also conducted a symbolic handover of a longboat equipped with a 30HP engine to the Song Fire and Rescue Team, enhancing its ability to respond to emergencies in the interior regions along the Rejang, Song, and Katibas Rivers. Also present at the event were Song District Officer Harry Bruce Edwin, Watson Awan Jalai (Political Secretary to the Premier of Sarawak), and Ambrose Abong Bugek (Political Secretary to the Minister for Works). alexander nanta linggi community leaders letters of appointment Lidam Assan
