BY JOEY LECLERC
ADDRESSING local community needs in Sarawak has been effective with funding provided by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) under the rural transformation programme (RTP) and minor rural project (MRP).
Introduced by former Chief Minister, the late Pehin Seri Adenan Satem (Tok Nan) and continued by his successor, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, the grants allocated annually under MRP to each GPS elected representative is to implement various development projects.
“For as long as the state of Sarawak is ruled by GPS under the leadership of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari, these bottom-up RTP introduced by Tok Nan and the MRP projects will continue to be implemented,” said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan during MRP grant presentation on Dec 3, 2020.
He added that the allocations are also part of the Sarawak government’s continuous agenda.
“Only in Sarawak can we see a substantial allocation in terms of MRP. I have checked the other states. None of them is giving an amount similar to what is given by the GPS state government.
“For RTP, I have also checked … No other states in Malaysia are giving allocations in terms of RTP. It is only in Sarawak,” he said.
He added that RTP and MRP projects are to implement projects needed by the people such as halls, bridges, recreation centres, places of worship.
Awang Tengah said under the watch of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government after the 14th general election (GE14), GPS members of parliament (MPs) were deprived of MRP allocations and were only given funds to run their service centre.
“Under PH, a lot of projects that have been previously approved were cancelled,” he said.
In the 2022 State Budget announced by Abang Johari, a total of RM1.155 billion was allocated for village and community development mainly for RTP, MRP, Kampung Extension Schemes, Urban Renewal Projects and Rural Growth Centres.
According to Abang Johari, the completion of these projects will provide greater accessibility and connectivity, as well as open up more rural areas for agriculture and other socio-economic development.
