KUCHING: Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) wants both the federal and state governments to take immediate action by laying out a “poor alleviation programme” for the seven poorest districts in Sarawak.
Its acting deputy president David Munan said the seven poorest districts are Song, Kanowit, Selangau, Daro, Paka, Simunjan and Lubok Antu which needed greater attention.
“Many of the villagers have lived so poorly. And some 40,000 Sarawakians had no choice but to leave for Johor to look for jobs.
“Therefore, it is advisable that the government should prepare an approach on how to address this problem,” he said in a statement yesterday.
David said he believed after 58 years of experience in governance, the government should be more aware and know how to deal with this issue.
He said there is a need to plan now and hoped that the poor alleviation programme would be rolled out as soon as possible.
“SWP also wishes to propose the opening up of the Native Customary Rights (NCR) land and territorial dormant in these districts.
“Use good policies and ones that are accepted by the landowner so that employment and economic growth can be achieved.
“We want to see the rural transformation to be given focus in these seven districts so that in five to seven years from now these areas will be among the most developed districts,” he said.
