BINTULU: The Sarawak government, through the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication (MUT), continues to make efforts to meet the utility and telecommunication needs of people living in rural areas.
Minister Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi said this effort represents the state government’s commitment to narrowing the communication and utility gap between urban and rural areas.
According to him, projects involving electricity, water, and telecommunications supply are still ongoing and are now awaiting completion.
“Therefore, we ask the residents in rural areas to be patient and give the implementing agencies and related officers time to carry out their tasks smoothly and according to the timeframe.
“This is an ongoing effort by the Sarawak government in collaboration with the federal government,” he was quoted as saying in Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) report after a visit to Rh Richards Umkar Sungai Serupai Tengah here on Wednesday (Oct 25).
Julaihi added that the state government also wants rural residents to be actively involved in mainstream development, just like in urban areas, as outlined in the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030).
The visit aimed to monitor the implementation of facility projects already in progress and to gather information about other issues faced by the residents.
The visit was also attended by MUT deputy permanent secretary Syed Mohamad Fauzi; Tatau District Office representative Winnie Dian; Balingian Sub-District Office representative Dominic Ahjun; Sarawak Energy Berhad senior manager from the Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrification (SARES), Barry Law; and longhouse chief Richard Umkar.