BINTULU: Selangau MP Edwin Banta wants to push for a bank to be set up in Tatau.
It is one of the issues he intends to raise at the forthcoming parliament session, another being building a water treatment plant in Sangau and upgrading the preschool in SK Tatau.
“I will participate in the six-week session to ensure the voice of the people in Selangau is heard,” he said during the ‘Mangkung Tiang’ ceremony at Michael China Guang House, Ulu Urau in Kakus, yesterday.
“I will use this opportunity to highlight urgent issues in Selangau. I would like to thank the community in this area for their support during the last general election, and I will continue to carry the trust and mandate that has been given to me.”
At the same event, Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department Datuk John Sikie Tayai spoke about the importance of having safety features installed in longhouses to prevent extensive damage should a fire break out.
“Most fires in longhouses are caused by electrical short circuits. Therefore, we need to ensure the electrical wiring is in accordance to the prescribed safety standards,” he said.
Sikie who is Kakus assemblyman also called on longhouse residents to continue to prioritise togetherness and the spirit of belonging as one big family.
He said the government has approved the construction of more telecommunication towers in the interior of Sarawak, including Kakus, in an effort to overcome connectivity problems.
“Several towers have been built and some are still in the process. Towers will be built in Belungai and Penyarai, among other rural areas to facilitate communication between residents,” he said.
At the ceremony, Edwin presented a minor rural project (MRP) grant of RM15,000 to the Tatau Community Leaders Association (KMKK).
Meanwhile, Sikie announced an MRP grant of RM10,000 to the Women’s Bureau of the Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) of Rumah Michael China.
He also announced a total of RM400,000 in MRP grants for ten other JKKKs – half from him and the other from Edwin.
The ten JKKKs are from Jimbun Jagoah House, Esther Ansai House, Rawing Manja House, Gerry Jani House, Joseph Mong Meludu House, China Guang House, Suran Unow House, Edward Jalin Ampas House, Tadong Lungan House and Joshua Renang Manai House.
