KUCHING: Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap Yau Sin has assured that the issue concerning the upgrading of facilities of the Mile 7 Market will be carried out accordingly.
“I am trying to get the work done and there is no such thing as me being defensive on the matter.
“Now, I have the draft bill of quantities (BQ) and the funding has been set aside for relevant works. The preliminary work is for a total sum of RM400,000 and this is from the Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) funding.
“Once the amount has been approved, it has to go through the process of design and specification,” he said.
He said this in response to a recent remark by Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen’s special assistant Michael Kong Feng Nian in a press conference at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex today (Nov 30).
Kong in a statement urged Yap to be proactive to help coordinate with Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) and push for the installation of electric fans at the Mile 7 Market.
“We are going to repair all the awning in the Kota Sentosa market, plus the tiling including installing additional fans and most importantly the repainting of the wall of the market.
“So, I’m trying to solve all the problems holistically, it is not like when you injure yourself and you just stick ‘koyok’ (plaster) to cover the injury. It’s not like that.
“We are trying to solve all the problems in Kota Sentosa systematically and I hope the public will give us a little bit of leeway,” said Yap.
On the issue of flash floods which occurred at the Stampin Resettlement Scheme recently, Yap said there is also a need for funding to solve the drainage issues.
“We now have a unity government and the opposition can come in to help if they want.
“And as far as drainage matters are concerned, it is under the concurrent list of the Federal Constitution. What does that mean? It is not solely the responsibility of the state government to come out with the development funding, but it is also the responsibility of the federal government,” he said.
“So I would like to ask Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen to come out with half of the RM350 million funding, since the matter is under the concurrent list,” he added.
He also hoped that Chong could push the federal government for the funding since they are part of the federal government.
“By coming out with the funding, it would ease the burden not only among the state government, but also would be beneficial for Sarawakians,” he said.
When asked when the work is expected to start, he asserted that there are proper procedures that must be adhered to.
“Because I believe in the rule of law, so I have to comply with the rules and the procedures.
“I would like to ask everyone to give me more time, as it is not an easy thing to get the funding.
“Let me do the work and get the necessary things done, and solve all the problems in Kota Sentosa,” said Yap.
