Sarawak’s rural development programme sees 5,369 PPRS houses built or in progress, with RM198 million allocated for various infrastructure projects.
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 5,369 houses under the Rumah Sejahtera Housing Programme (PPRS) have been completed or are being implemented in Sarawak.
Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Rubiah Wang told the Dewan Rakyat these housing projects represent part of Sarawak’s Rural People-Friendly Projects for 2025.
The PPRS initiative involves a total cost of RM112.42 million through the Rural People-Friendly Projects programme.
She revealed that the overall allocation for ongoing and completed initiatives in Sarawak’s PMR for 2025 totals RM198.17 million.
Other implemented projects include the Village Connectivity Road initiative with RM67 million allocated for 169 projects.
The Village-Farm Road initiative involves 28 projects costing RM13.5 million, while 18 Social Amenities Programme projects are worth RM5.25 million.
“In line with the ministry’s touch-point and people-centric focus, we are committed to ensuring that all rural areas have access to connecting roads and treated clean water to support socio-economic development,” she said.
Rubiah was responding to Edwin anak Banta’s question about rural people-friendly development projects in Sarawak during parliamentary question time.
“This is to ensure that no one is left behind in enjoying development,” she added.
For Selangau specifically, four PMR initiatives are being implemented with a total cost of RM1.9 million.
These comprise three Village Connectivity Road projects and one PPRS housing project.
Responding to Datuk Anyi Ngau’s question about former logging roads, Rubiah said the ministry doesn’t have a specific maintenance programme for such roads.
However, she noted that former logging roads can be upgraded to Public Works Department standards under the Rural Road Programme.
Since the 10th Malaysia Plan, 23 projects worth RM1.47 billion have been approved to upgrade former logging roads in rural Sarawak.
These projects cover a total length of 536.2 kilometres across the state.
“Of these 23 projects, eight have been completed, 11 are under construction, and four are in the pre-implementation stage,” Rubiah stated.
Completed former logging roads will be handed over to the state government for registration as state roads.
This registration makes them eligible for maintenance under the Malaysian Road Records Information System. – Bernama
