SERIAN: Assemblymen in Bidayuh majority areas are key to empowering the implementation of the Greater Kuching Coordinated Development Agency (GKCDA).
Its chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Ik Pahon Joyik said as men on the ground, they can study the challenges and potentials available in the state constituencies involved.
The nine constituency areas are Tanjung Datu, Tasik Biru, Serembu, Mambong, Tarat, Tebedu, Bukit Semuja, Kedup and Opar.
“We are collecting and compiling projects in these nine areas so that there is no duplication.
“The assemblymen as chairmen are individuals who are close to the people.
“Despite receiving Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) and Minor Rural Project (MRP) funding, there may be huge projects with high impact that are difficult to execute. So, such projects can be implemented under the GKCDA.
“The cooperation of GKCDA with the assemblymen involved is very important to ensure GKCDA achieves the objectives that have been targeted by the government,” he said.
He told reporters this when attending Greater Kuching Coordinated Development Agency (GKCDA) Mini Lab at the Serian Administrative Centre on Monday (Dec 5).
Ik Pahon noted that the Mini Lab was the first project in which all stakeholders, including relevant ministries and agencies, as well as community leaders, were participating.
He added that as the agency uses a bottom-up approach to gather the necessary information, tribal leaders and community leaders were also invited.
On the same note, Ik Pahon who is also the former deputy state secretary asserted that the facilities available at the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) complexes in Sarawak need to be improved to boost bilateral trade relations with Kalimantan, Indonesia.
“We see the potential for trade, so it is vital for us to upgrade and expand the current facilities in the complexes.
“It offers great potential in the health, medical, and educational sectors. We are certain that with appropriate infrastructure, it would also help to expand bilateral trade.
“We hope that people in the surrounding area would take advantage of the opportunity in terms of providing transportation, food stalls, and so on,” he added.
About 120 attendees participated in the Mini Lab, including district officers from Lundu, Bau, Tebedu, Serian, and Siburan, as well as penghulu, temenggung and pemanca.
