KAPIT: The Federal Government has approved RM2 million for the implementation of a river erosion control project in front of Rumah Panjang Robert, Nanga Sebatu.
According to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the step is taken to reduce the risk of erosion that increasingly threatens the longhouse, especially during high tide.
“On my way here (to Rumah Panjang Robert), I noticed significant erosion affecting the riverbank and surrounding areas of the longhouse, which poses a danger to the residents.
“Therefore, I contacted the Ministry of Finance to ensure that the funds for this project were available before announcing it to all of you.
“I do not want to announce something if the funds are not yet available. And the answer is yes, we have approved RM2 million to protect the riverbank from erosion,” he said at Pemimpin Bersama Rakyat programme at Rumah Robert Nanga Sebatu here Sunday (Sept 29).
Anwar also emphasised the importance of leaders and government officials going on the ground to witness the people’s problems, rather than only focusing on large projects.
“We take care of the entire country, we build relationships with Singapore, create an economic zone in Johor, and then develop areas in the northern border with Thailand, so we need to go out to understand the status of projects.
“However, we cannot only focus on major projects; as leaders, we must feel the problems faced by the people, such as addressing local issues like river erosion,” he said.
Taking river erosion in Kelantan as an example, he said that it has caused flooding due to poor management.
“We want to ensure that similar incidents do not occur in Kapit with the support of the government for the erosion control project,” he added.
Also present were Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, federal Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, Deputy Minister of Digital who is also Hulu Rajang MP Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong and Sarawak State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki.
