KAPIT: Pelagus assemblyman Wilson Nyabong Ijang hosted a pre-Gawai gathering at his longhouse, Rumah Unjah, Ulu Sungai Sesibau, here recently.
Speaking to the press at the function, guest-of-honour Kapit MP Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg was a reformer.
“Since he became Chief Minister (CM) in 2017, he has made drastic changes. When he visited Kapit, he agreed to the setting up of URDA (Upper Rajang Development Agency), and then he established HLDA (Highland Development Agency) and NRDA (Northern Region Development Agency). He also designated rural areas in Sarikei and Betong as ‘food basket’ regions.”
He said the CM committed RM1.5 bln each to the three development agencies, in which RM1. 5 bln was to be spent from 2019 to 2020.
Nanta pointed out that in the past, development very much depended on the State Planning Unit (SPU).
“More often than not, the development programmes by SPU were not exactly what we wanted. But now with these development agencies, we brainstorm on what projects we want, we prioritise, we put forward and those are the projects that are being implemented.
“The grassroots, including community leaders, the District Office, Resident Office and the heads of department and the wakil rakyat have a lot of input,” said Nanta.
“In the past, this was not done. For instance, Kapit Division depended on SPU. The trend was we were only given RM400 mln compared to now – in two years, we are asked to spend RM1.5 bln through URDA, HLDA, NRDA.”
On the current political scenario, Nanta said: “We, as a coalition government in the state now, we have a new approach.”
“The rakyat already know the CM does not depend on the contributions from the federal government but find money through collections from the rights and privileges of our own laws.
“He made so much effort on how to find money. That is why he is able to impose tax on petroleum products for export, which brings in a lot of money for the state,” he added.
