KUCHING: Ninety-seven percent of Sarawakians enjoy 24-hour electricity supply while 93 percent of rural areas have power supply to date.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the development of utility sector was a priority of the state government towards ensuring that all areas were lighted up.
“Currently, over 84 percent of Sarawak has been provided with treated water supply, with almost the entire urban population receiving treated water while it is at 67 percent for the rural population,” he said.
He was speaking at the state banquet held in conjunction with Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s 84th birthday celebration on Saturday.
Abang Johari said that the main focus of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government was to implement the various development programmes.
“The development implemented has covered urban areas to rural areas. The construction of nine bridges connecting all coastal areas of Sarawak reflected the GPS government’s commitment to the people,” he said.
He assured that the state government would continue to develop infrastructure, new industries, technology, and commercial agriculture to produce more food and skilled people from rural areas.
Abang Johari noted that the Pan Borneo highway connecting Telok Melano to Lawas had begun to show rapid progress.
“At the same time, the GPS government will also implement the Second Trunk Road which will shorten the journey from Kuching to the central region, that is, Sarikei, Sibu, and Kapit,” he said, adding that the existing coastal road would also be upgraded.
He pointed out that residents of Kapit would no longer be marginalised from current development, for though the Sibu-Kapit Road was not complete yet, it was already accessible to traffic.
The road would certainly bring comfort to Kapit residents and this was an important infrastructure in the development of Kapit area.
“I am confident that the tourism sector in Kapit and Baleh will progress even more rapidly as there is no need to rely entirely on water transportation anymore,” he said.
On another matter, Abang Johari said that the state government was developing Yayasan Sarawak International Secondary Schools (YSISS) which would use the international general certificate of secondary education (IGCSE) offered by the Cambridge Assessment International Education Board.
The construction of the first international school in Semenggok was launched on Sept 22.
“This is a testament of the GPS government’s commitment to provide a platform for the success of Sarawak’s youth in world-class education,” he said.
