Topik Pada Hari Ini:
> Baru Bian, Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Bakelalan, Sarawak – Kepentingan Perbincangan Awam dalam Penentuan Projek Keutaman di Sarawak
> Fatira dari Muda Sarawak – Dilema Pembangunan Sarawak: Keutamaan Penanaman Padi atau Projek Mega?
> Romuald Siew, Presiden Tahabas – Jalan Tak Bertar dan Dana Tidak Terurus
On Today Show
> Baru Bian, Member of the Bakelalan State Legislative Assembly, Sarawak – The Importance of Public Debate in Sarawak's Project Prioritization
> Fatira of Muda Sarawak – Sarawak's Development Dilemma: Prioritizing Rice Cultivation or Grand Projects?
> Romuald Siew, President of Tahabas – Unpaved Roads and Misallocated Funds
---------------------
Baru Bian, Member of the Bakelalan State Legislative Assembly, Sarawak
*The Importance of Public Debate in Sarawak's Project Prioritization*
The allocation of RM331 this year - to upgrade and maintain log roads to rural villages is a ridiculous act. Baru Bian thinks that. As long as this log road is still used for logging activities - it is the responsibility of the company involved to repair or maintain the road (the government cannot provide allocations). But the government can take over these wooden roads and upgrade them when they have been abandoned or are no longer used by the timber concession companies. According to Baru Bian, there is an allocation under MARRIS every year by the federal government to improve state roads. But it does not include log roads. If MARRIS allocations are used to upgrade log roads, it is a wrong move.
According to Baru Bian, the Sarawak state assembly meets twice a year. But if there are emergency matters, then the Speaker can call a special conference. The frequency of meetings for now, is still reasonable - according to Baru Bian. But what is more important for Baru Bian is filling the conference time. Each proposed project must go through a debate first in the DUN. And projects of people's needs should be a priority. Just gave an example of the RM5 billion ART project. It should be RM5 billion to build a road to the interior which is more urgent. Not ART RM5 billion. But the Premier of Sarawak Sarawak often prioritizes projects that are the favorite of the government. Baru Bian thinks that the Sarawak Government is able to provide initial allocations to prepare large-scale agricultural areas (Rice Plantation) without having to wait for a budget from the central government. Sarawak's state budget last year was more than 11 billion ringgit and is expected to continue to increase this year. Baru Bian criticized the Sarawak Premier who expected the federal government to provide RM1 billion to build drainage and water lines for the rice planting project in Banting-Sri Aman. While the RM5 billion ART project, the Premier does not need to wait for the budget from the federal government.
