KUCHING: Some 60 houses in the Batu Kitang constituency have undergone repair works over the past three years, said assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang.
He said the RM1 million annual fund from the Sarawak government for the repairs of dilapidated houses in certain constituencies under the Sarawak Minor Rural Project-Repairs and Rebuilding Scheme (MRP-PPRMS) had been utilised prudently ― at least in his constituency.
“This money has been going to people who need it most ― the poor.
“I wouldn’t say that these houses (tenants) are hardcore poor because there are others who are even poorer (outside Batu Kitang area).
“But in Batu Kitang, we focus on the poorest first, and then we go to the next level (those in a better position than the poorest level but who still require assistance),” he told the press when attending the Sarawak Federation of Chinese Associations Media Night here on Sunday.
“We spend RM15,000 per house, and they do not have to pay a single cent. At least 60 households have benefited from the programme.
“So, from here on, every year, if we have RM1 million to spend like this, you can imagine how many people we can assist and eventually, everybody will have good shelters to stay in for several more years,” Lo said.
When asked to comment on the challenge from Democratic Action Party candidates to his seat in the coming state election, Lo said, “I would not want to underrate anybody but I would like to remind myself to work even harder.”
