KAPIT: Kapit District Council (KDC) held its second Community Development Programme and Local Agenda 21 (LA 21) for this year at Rumah Inguh, Nanga Sepitoh, Sungai Paku recently last Sept 8 and 9.
There were ways for the council to get direct community participation in its programmes while enhancing closer rapport between it and the people living within its area of jurisdiction.
It is also for disseminating information on the council’s services and community development programmes to the grassroots while creating awareness of the importance of preserving and protecting the environment through the Local Agenda 21.
The activities on the first day included cleaning the longhouse compound and surrounding areas on ‘gotong royong’ basis; a women’s workshop on the making of ‘bure’; a fire safety talk by the Fire and Rescue Department followed by a firefighting demonstration, and fogging to kill Aedes mosquitoes which carry the dengue virus.
In the evening were awareness talks by various government agencies including the council itself, Health Department, Land and Survey Department and Bukit Mabong District Office.
The final day of the programme began with the planting of trees. Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing, who is also Infrastructure and Port Development Minister, officiated at the closing ceremony.
Walikota Lating Minggang who spoke earlier at the function said Kapit District Council would continue to carry out its community development programme in the rural areas in accordance with its go-rural policy to create awareness of various matters including the environment, social development, health, economy, security, education, infrastructure development and youth development.
The programme, he said, enabled the longhouse folk to meet their elected representatives and officers of the various government agencies who updated them on the latest government policies and development.
He reiterated that the council embarked on LA 21 and the Community Service Programme since 1996 under its ‘Go Rural Policy’.
“As time goes by the name was changed from ‘Kempen Kebersihan Luar Bandar’ to ‘Programme Khidmat Masyarakat’ and now it has been standardised to LA 21 and Community Service Programme. Today the programme involves some 20 government agencies, three private sector players and 11 longhouses,” Lating pointed out.
He lauded the staff members of the council for their commitment and dedication and also thanked the various government agencies for their close cooperation by giving talks on their respective roles and functions.
He also commended members of the Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) of Rumah Inguh for their willingness to host the programme.
He then announced a grant of RM10,000 from the council to Rumah Inguh for constructing a waste dumping site for the village.
Council secretary Jabang Juntan in his speech, said that the council’s coming LA 21 and Community Service Programme will be held at Uma Nyaving in Bakun Resettlement Scheme, Sungai Asap, Belaga and there will be one for Bukit Goram Zone.
According to Jabang the council organises four LA 21 and community service programmes each year covering the state constituencies in the division, namely, Pelagus, Katibas, Bukit Goram, Baleh, Belaga and Murum.
The chairman of the organising committee of the programme was Councillor Bakat Gira.
