THE Sabah government needs to provide government land or a suitable site to ensure Rumah Mesra Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) recipients can enjoy basic infrastructure.
Tempasuk Assemblyman Datuk Mohd Arsad Bistari made the suggestion when debating the Sabah Budget 2024 at the State Assembly sitting here on Tuesday.
Arsad said Rumah Mesra SMJ is a noble effort by the Sabah government which aims to help the people in the state to have their own homes, especially the underprivileged.
This is also a proactive step in improving the standard of living of the community, but, Arsad explained that there are several issues faced by the recipients that should be given special attention.
“Firstly, recipients who do not have land to build a house. Secondly, some applicants and recipients have land to build the house but in areas that are often hit by floods.
Thirdly, the land site is far from the community area or villages, making it difficult for channeling infrastructures like road water supply, and electricity.
“To overcome this problem, I suggest the State Government provide government land lots or a more organised site for Rumah Mesra SMJ recipients with a more organised and efficient housing concept.
“With this approach, it can ensure that important infrastructure such as roads, water supply, and electricity can be channelled more easily and effectively to Rumah Mesra SMJ recipients who facing the three problems as I stated earlier,” he said.
In his speech, Arsad said the 2024 State Budget themed “Sabah Teguh, Rakyat Terbela” (Sabah Robust, People Prosper), reflects the commitment of the State Government in developing Sabah comprehensively.
He said the State Budget had paid attention to basic food security, especially rice.
“I support the initiative taken by the government to increase the self-sufficiency level (SSL) of rice from 22 percent this year to 31 per cent in 2025.
“The initiatives presented in the 2024 budget need to be supported because I believe that every effort and step taken by the State government is for can definitely help boost economic resources for farmers.”
He also noted that Kota Belud had been designated as the Jelapang Padi Negara area and since created, Integrated Agricultural Development Area (IADA) Kota Belud tried to improve the productivity of rice production in this state as well as improve agricultural technology especially in Kota Belud.
“Therefore, I suggest the State Government, the Federal Government, and all parties continue intensive efforts to develop Jelapang Padi Kota Belud by improving irrigation system and add the number of machines because this is one of the problems which is often voiced by farmers in the Kota area Belud as well as in the Tempasuk state constituency,” he said, adding that any potential areas for cultivation paddy should empowered so that the productivity of rice production in the state could be improved.
On basic infrastructure, Arsad said Tempasuk is not exempted from experiencing problems such as water supply that is often interrupted especially after the rainy season, floods, power outages, and road.
“It is true, the government has tried persistently to deal with this kind of problem, but still much to do,” he said, urging everyone to work together for the benefit of the people.
