SARATOK, 14 Jan: The Selangor Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Government’s attentiveness in safeguarding the fate of the people is truly proven when they did not only assist the people of Selangor, but also spread goodwill to the district of Saratok, Sarawak.
The latest that the Selangor Government has done under the administration of Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim was to fulfil the promise to build new longhouses for 200 people here at Sungai Jirak.
Their houses were burned down in a fire two years ago.
Moreover, Selangor PR can contribute three times more than what is offered by the Umno-BN Government that only wants to contribute RM12,000 to the residents there.
The longhouse known as Rumah Unding has 20 “doors” and was paid for by the Selangor Government with a sum of RM360,000.
Krian Assemblyman, Ali Biju in his speech said that the promise to rebuild the longhouse was first voiced by Selangor State Exco, Dr Xavier Jayakumar while campaigning in the Sarawak State Elections in April 2011.
“With the help of the Selangor State Government, the Unding longhouse was completed within a short period.
“When Dr Xavier ‘turun padang’ (going to the ground to attend to people’s needs) to help Pakatan Rakyat campaign, no one believed his words.
“However, it turns out to be not an empty promise. With the construction of this house, it proves the sincerity and honesty of Pakatan Rakyat in helping the people here in Ulu Kerian, Saratok,” he said while attending Rumah Unding’s Opening Ceremony.
The ceremony was personally officiated by the Chief Minister of Selangor and was also attended by Dr Xavier who is the Health, Plantation Workers, Poverty and Caring Government Exco.
Ali added that the longhouse was built as a result of mutual cooperation (gotong-royong) by the local residents in stages without using the services of a contractor.
According to him, the provisions given by the Selangor State Government was far better compared to what was offered by the Federal Government.
“The Federal Government offered assistance of RM12,000 to build longhouses here.
“With that amount, what can the people get? It is expensive for contractor fees alone.
“Of course the houses built (with the Federal Government allocation) will not be able to accommodate many families,” he said.
