FIRST-HAND LOOK: Lau (right) explains a feature to Shafie (second from right) when they visit the booster station generator room.

SIBU: Almost RM1.3 billion has been allocated by the government to build more basic infrastructure in rural areas in the state beginning January next year.

Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said out of this, RM531 million would be for building rural roads, RM265 million for water supply, and RM450 million for electricity.

“This is the vision of the Barisan Nasional (BN) government to ensure every Malaysian, regardless of where they live in the country, enjoy a comfortable life,” he said when opening a new water booster station in Teku-Pasai Siong Road here yesterday.

“The government, through my ministry, will continue this effort to ensure every village is not exempted from enjoying the benefit of being under the umbrella of BN.”

Among those present were the ministry’s deputy minister Datuk Joseph Entulu, deputy secretary-general Datuk Yusoff Dohab, Public Works Department deputy director (Corporate Affair) Danien Rangu, Sibu Water Board engineer Lau Pon Yin and Penghulu Richard Ampi.

‘Support BN in coming general election’

Shafie, who is also Umno vice president, later urged the people to give their support to BN in the impending general election to ensure that more development projects could be implemented, especially in Sabah and Sarawak.

Last year, he said, RM5 billion was spent for infrastructure development in the state, and it was the biggest ever given to Sarawak for such a purpose since the country attained independence.

“Let us give our undivided support to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“If you want to invest the future of your children, invest in Najib …you cannot afford to invest in the opposition,” he said.

On the station, Shafie said it was built at a cost of RM14.86 million and would benefit 1,143 residents from 189 longhouses in the area.

Its high-level tank has a capacity of 1.2 million litres, he said.

He added it was an extension of the existing water booster in Teku area, located about 7.3 kilometres from the station site.

On a request by Entulu, Shafie said he would find ways to get the allocation needed to provide water supply to 1,400 people in Pasai Siong Tengah and Pasai Siong Ulu areas.