On May 17, the Madani Adopted Village programme was also expanded to Miri.
KUCHING: The Federal Government is adding another 500 villages and longhouses in Sarawak to its Madani Adopted Village programme to help address infrastructure shortcomings in rural communities.
The national programme, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister’s Department, has now expanded into the Kanowit parliamentary constituency in central Sarawak, said National Unity Minister Datuk Seri Aaron Ago Dagang.
Aaron, who is also the Member of Parliament for Kanowit, today presented RM500,000 in federal grants for clean water supply projects to three newly adopted villages in his constituency; Rumah Johnny, Rumah Bibi and Rumah Morris.
A nearby primary school serving pupils from these longhouses, Sekolah Kebangsaan Batu Luking, will also benefit from the clean water supply project, he announced during his visit to Rumah Bibi.
“We (the Federal Government) will add another 500 villages and longhouses in Sarawak to the Madani Adopted Village programme.
“We are giving priority to communities that are still lacking basic amenities such as electricity and clean water supply.
“We will allocate funds to facilitate the construction of off-grid solar power supply projects as well as clean water supply projects in these villages under the programme.
“The aim is to directly improve the lives of rural communities in urgent need of assistance,” he said.
Aaron said his ministry is working closely with district offices across Sarawak to identify villages and longhouses requiring urgent infrastructure support, including electricity, clean water projects, roads and bridges, to be included in the programme.
On May 17, the Madani Adopted Village programme was also expanded to Miri.
Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, who is also the Member of Parliament for Miri, said RM1 million under the programme had been allocated to Kampung Haji Wahed in Miri, with other villages in the city expected to be included later.
“The Implementation Coordination Unit under the Prime Minister’s Department in Putrajaya is overseeing the Madani Adopted Village project.
“RM1 million has already been allocated to Kampung Haji Wahed to repair village roads affected by recent floods and erosion.
“Public facilities such as the community hall and drainage retaining walls will also be repaired.
“The Federal Government is concerned about the welfare of ordinary people in Sarawak.
“Attention will be given under the Madani Adopted Village programme to communities facing infrastructure issues, not only in rural areas but also in urban locations such as Miri,” he said during the programme launch in Kampung Haji Wahed.
He added that the Prime Minister’s Department is coordinating with state ministries and local authorities to appoint local contractors for the infrastructure repair works.
