BELURAN: The Paitan sub-district should be elevated into a full district to ensure comprehensive development in the area, said Minister in The Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili.
The Kota Marudu Member of Parliament said a rural area like Paitan required effective machinery which could be obtained through a full district to ensure smooth development in the area.
“In any case, to bring development to the people, requires machinery such as in (the full district of) Beluran, Kota Marudu, Kudat, Kinabatangan and Pensiangan which are among the rural districts that still have a long way to go in bringing changes to their communities.
“Indeed, much has been achieved, (but) much more has to be implemented,” he told reporters after launching the Tagunggu Festival, an ethnic Sungai music art culture here, Saturday.
He said this when responding to Sugut Assemblyman Datuk James Ratib’s suggestion in his welcoming speech at the event that the Government considers the request for Paitan to be elevated into a full district.
Paitan, which is on the east coast of Sabah and 236 kilometres (km) from Kota Kinabalu, began operations as a sub-district on Jan 4,1999 in the Beluran district involving an area of 2,466 square km.
Currently, Sabah has 27 full districts and 11 sub-districts.
Ongkili said that the Federal Government was also committed to implementing poverty eradication efforts in Sabah and Sarawak and often held discussions on the economic and modernisation needs in the two states.
He said the Federal Government also gave its serious commitment to the matter and gave ample room to the leaders from Sabah and Sarawak to raise various matters which should be implemented to achieve the targets.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries, Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee, when met by reporters, said Sugut, an isolated area in the Paitan sub-district, was still far left behind in terms of communication development, basic facilities and had non-comprehensive broadband.
“Paitan must be elevated to a full district to ensure the rapid development needed by the community in this sub-district.
“It (upgrading) has to undergo a process and study which will be time-consuming but we hope the process of upgrading this sub-district be done promptly,” he said.
On the Tagunggu Festival, Ronald, who is also Beluran Member of Parliament, said the plan to promote it as a tourism product in Paitan would be planned.
