RANAU, a district surrounded by the rural-most parts of several poverty stricken districts, could be the poorest in Sabah, claimed State Reform Party (STAR) divisional head for Ranau, Jalibin Paidi.
Jalibin said, while it was never mentioned that Ranau is the poorest, the fact that it is at the centre of Sabah and that it is adjacent to the notoriously rural parts of Kota Marudu, Beluran, Tongod, Tambunan, Keningau, Kota Belud and Tuaran districts, might have concealed real facts on poverty in the district.
"STAR is concerned because many areas in Ranau in fact still do not enjoy basic amenities such as good roads, electricity and water. It is also a very hilly district, and that it is a common scene that natives live in poverty, living in old dilapidated wooden houses here and there," said Jalibin in a statement issued today.
Jalibin, who is also STAR state committee member, and is said to be among the top contenders as STAR's candidate in Ranau, called on the UMNO-led state government to carry out a fresh study on poverty in the state especially in rural areas like Ranau.
He said while it is taken for granted that the northern part of Sabah is the poorest with the most number of hardcore poor households, Ranau is just adjacent to most of the poverty stricken areas and this warrants a re-look as trips to the ground do find poverty as rampant in many parts of Ranau.
"Signs of poverty can also be seen from the low purchasing power of the people. In Ranau, we have three state constituencies (Kundasang, Karanaan and Paginatan) but only two visible towns - Ranau itself and Kundasang, both thriving partly because they are right on the east-west road that connects Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan and Tawau.
"The tourism sector too has in fact benefitted little to the ordinary kampung folks. There haven't any outstanding programmes that have really helped leap-frog meaningful participation of local entrepreneurs in tourism. It is all ordinary and naturally developed, not so much of government intervention," alleged Jalibin, adding that it is the same in agriculture there.
Towards this end, he said, Karanaan assemblyman, Masidi Manjun, who is Tourism and Environment Minister, and Ranau MP, Siringan Gubat, should perhaps enlighten the public on the real situation of poverty and rural developments in Ranau vis-a-vis increase of income, infrastructures, school drop-outs, mortality rate and migration of youths to other towns and cities. (STAR Media)
Diharapkan MP dan wakil rakyat Ranau akan berusaha membangunkan Ranau, mereka ada tanggungjawab untuk membawa perubahan kepada kawasan masing-masing.
ReplyDeleteBaru baru ini, Musa Aman menyeru Wakil Rakyat untuk menunaikan janji mereka kepada rakyat sebelum mereka diberikan mandat pada PRU-13.
ReplyDeleteChief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman is pleased with the performance of poverty eradication programmes in the state but wanted all implementing agencies involved to further expedite the completion of projects entrusted to them, to allow the target groups to benefit from them as soon as possible.
ReplyDeleteMusa said he had directed all agencies to take the necessary action and continuously improve their mechanism to ensure all ongoing projects can be completed on time or ahead of schedule.
Delete“I was briefed on the implementation of the poverty eradication projects that are being implemented in Sabah, and I am satisfied because everything is going well,” he told reporters after chairing the State Steering Committee on Poverty Eradication meeting.
DeleteThe Chief Minister said thestate and federal governments had introduced various programmes to help improve the economy and livelihood of the poor listed under the e-Kasih.
DeleteHe said among the main programmes under the federal were 1Azam, 1Azam Monthly Allowance and Housing Assistance (PBR), while those under the state included Mini Estet Sejahtera, Ladang PPRT and Localised Economic Improvement Project.
DeleteIn addition, there are also five agropolitan projects – one each in Kota Belud, Pitas, Kemabong, Tongod and Beluran being implemented by SEDIA under the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC), involving a total allocation of RM239 million.
DeleteOn average, Musa said there were about 10,000 recipients of 1Azam Monthly Allowance every month in Sabah last year, involving a payment amounting to RM36 million.
DeleteAs of Feb 3, he said 2,397 new houses had been completed under phase one of the PBR programme, while another 308 of 350 units under the phase two had been built by the local authorities in the state.
Delete“Under the PBR, a total of 2,531 projects to repair dilapidated houses were approved in 2011 with Giatmara as the implementing agency. So far 361 were completed and another 239 are under construction.
Delete“For this year, 1,400 new houses and 1,992 reconstruction projects have been approved for the state.
Delete“The state government has requested the 1,992 projects to be upgraded to new house category and we expect there will be an additional 600 units of new homes to be approved,” he said.
DeleteAccording to Musa, 150 units of houses equipped with social amenities have also been completed using allocation contributed by FELDA under the Nala Aquaculture Project in Tungku, Lahad Datu.
DeleteThe locals used to own all the agricultural land in Kundasang and its surrounding areas. The Agriculture Department has introduced various assistance to assist local farmers and once upon a time, even KPD focussed on the agricultural development of Kundasang
ReplyDeletekawsan Ranau tak lah mundur sangat, penduduknya pun tak juga miskin. Ranau kini makin membangun dan merupakan lokasi pelancongan utama di Sabah.
ReplyDeleteKemajuan berperingkat dilakukan dikawasan tersebut. Maka itu sungguh mustahil dengan kenyataan STAR itu.
ReplyDelete