Thursday November 30, 2006
Sarawak urged to set up therapy centre at assembly building
By JACK WONG
KUCHING: A “shouting therapy centre” should be set up in the Sarawak State Assembly building for people who need to holler, said Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu.
Jabu said that if shouting was confined to this centre, decorum in the assembly could be maintained.
“There is an urgent need for such a centre,” he said yesterday during the winding-up session of the state Rural Development Ministry, of which is he is the minister.
He explained that if shouting could be done elsewhere, the Speaker’s workload would be reduced and time spent trying to get the proceedings to continue would be saved.
“It will increase the efficiency, productivity and certainly the dignity of this Assembly and uphold the good name and civility of Sarawak and our beloved people,” he said.
He said the Opposition’s shouting tactics during assembly sittings had drawn public criticism that the dignity of the house had been degraded and the Assembly had turned into a “fish market”.
On another matter, Jabu said oil palm plantations, and tourism and commercial projects would be developed in the nine rural growth centres (RGCs) to generate income for regrouped communities.
The RGCs were set up to regroup villagers from scattered settlements. The government provides the necessary infrastructure and amenities, schools, clinics and other facilities for the settlers. Economic activities are implemented to provide income to the people.
He said the government would develop 25,000ha of idle land and another 85,000ha of native customary rights land and state land in the RGCs in Beladin (Betong Division), Semop and Balingian (Mukah Division) and Long Lama (Limbang Division).
For the Padawan RGC (Kuching Division), he said 600ha of orchard and commercial complexes would be developed.
“Waterfront development for Telaga Air RGC (Kuching) will be carried out next year and a slipway for boat building and repair industry for the Beladin RGC (Betong) will also be developed,” he added.
Jabu said the government had spent RM47.3mil on 14 projects in the nine RGCs. Another 15 projects have been planned.
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