Power poles taunt villagers who dream of electricity

Villagers in Kampung Tasik Biru and Tanjung Batu who were promised electricity supply by Christmas 2013 were again left disappointed.

BAU:  Kampung Tasik Biru and Tangjung Batu  are  not far from capital city Kuching, but like many other parts of the state,  they are wanting in infrastructure.

Despite the installation of electricity poles in 2012 there is no power supplied to these villages.

The poles stand tall, taunting the villages, who use generators instead to power their daily  needs.

There are 50 houses in this two villages which are in the BN-held Mas Gading parliamentary constituency.

Mas Gading parliamentary constituency comprises Tasik Biru and Opar state seats, also held by BN.

The constituencies are BN strongholds yet has seen little development

According to DAP Tasik Biru chairman Mordi Bimol, he has been deluged with complaints over the delay in electricity supply and water issues.

“Over the years, the government has been denying the existence of people in these areas. Their excuse is that the land here is on the mining list. Then why make promises?.

“The government promised the project will be completed by Christmas 2013 but until now there is no sign of that the project will be completed.

“The project began in December 2012 before the 13th general election…but nothing has happened since,” he told FMT.

Sharing water meters

Bimol said the villagers had been eagerly preparing their homes with the necessary wirings and had bought and installed electrical items in anticipation of a bright Christmas as promised by the authorities. Unfortunately, ‘light’ never came.

But this isn’t all. Bimol said the villagers were also forced to share water meters.

“There’s one water meter for every 10 hours.. It is totally ridiculous for a village located near Bau town and not far from Kuching.

“These people have been waiting for more than 50 years,” he said adding that it was a typical case of “Election Projects’ Syndrome” in rural areas.

He said now that the election was over and time lapsed, people are beginning to complain about abandoned and sick projects in their areas.

“All those election promises are nothing now.

“The installation of an electric pole was intensified before GE13 but now it seems abandoned and the same goes for water supply projects that have recently been reported in Bengoh.

“What is their excuse now? Are they going to blame the contractor? Or is it there not enough allocation?” he asked