KUCHING: Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) has urged the state government to alleviate the burdens of life as well as mitigate the rising inflationary rates,as a result of which goods and food items are costing more.
Its president Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh said although long-term and visionary plans may be important, a more realistic and down to earth approach is urgently needed now.
He said the people’s wish for a better life is what the government should be aiming at; such as creating more stable jobs, higher incomes, better medical and health care, better housing conditions, education, social security, infrastructure facilities including electricity and water supplies.
Besides, he said, Sarawak needs more road connectivity as well as better internet coverage and living environments.
“People’s wish for a better life should be the immediate concern of the government.
“People’s immediate needs and fundamental requirements must be the top priority of the development plans,” he said at a press conference held at the party headquarters here on Saturday.
The Bawang Assan assemblyman said big and mega projects can wait or come later, adding the visionary targets of 2030 may look good but they are too far- fetched as far as ordinary people are concerned.
He also suggested putting on hold projects like ART, Second Trunk Road, and Sarawak’s vision to become a hydrogen hub in the Asean region as well as the plan to set up Sarawak’s own airlines, among others.
“The GPS government should first make sure that the basic needs and fundamental requirements must be catered for before embarking on those ambitious projects which will not bring immediate direct benefits to the people at large,” he added.
Wong said some rural areas are still without proper roads, no electricity or water supplies, little internet coverage.
He said focus should be given to address other issues such as families living under poverty line, dilapidated schools, longhouses in Sarawak that are in deplorable conditions, many clinics that are in very poor physical conditions and lack of medical supplies.
“All these in a way affect people’s life and livelihood directly and indirectly and must be given top priority above all else,” he stressed.
Also present were PSB deputy president Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa and secretary-general Baru Bian.
