NANGA ENGKUAH LONG HOUSE VILLAGE IS KKR MADANI ADOPTED VILLAGE, ALLOCATED RM2.5 MILLION

KAPIT, May 13 (Bernama) -- The Nanga Engkuah Long House Village in Ulu Katibas, in Song, Sarawak, has been selected as the Works Ministry (KKR) MADANI Adopted Village.

Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the Finance Ministry had allocated RM2.5 million for the implementation of various projects in the village which consisted of three long houses, namely Rumah Assan, Rumah Radiah and Rumah Albert Lajong, involving 658 residents.

He said the projects included the construction of two bridges to connect the three long houses and installing solar energy-based street lights.

"Tenders for the projects will be opened in two weeks and the work is scheduled for completion next year,” he told a press conference at the “Menyatuni Kampung Angkat MADANI KKR” programme here yesterday.

The MADANI Village Adoption project is one of the programmes in a series of media tours to Kapit for four days from May 11 (Saturday) to May 14 (Tuesday) in conjunction with the National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) which was celebrated on May 29.

A total of 10 media practitioners from various agencies from the peninsula, Kuching and Kapit shared Nanta's experience in growing up in Kapit.

The Nanga Engkuah Longhouse is a modern longhouse made of concrete and is located approximately 50 kilometres from Pekan Song or about three hours by boat.

According to Nanta, the MADANI Adoption Village project will be expanded if the project at the  Nanga Engkuah Long House Village project is successful.

Meanwhile, Nanta said KKR will work with Katibas Assemblyman Lidam Assan, the Upper Rajang Development Agency (URDA), and the Sarawak government to ensure the smooth implementation of socioeconomic programmes, especially agricultural activities and freshwater fish farming in the village.

"An agricultural station has also been built in the village and we will make full use of that station... and we will also help to provide plastic ponds so that commercial fish farming can be carried out in a structured and organised manner," he said.

Meanwhile, Lidam said he would strengthen vegetable farming activities at the agricultural station and set up a mobile research centre for inland fisheries.

"With projects like this, they will simultaneously promote eco-tourism and agro-tourism. Our ultimate aim is to develop the village economy by having a large pond (fish farm) and we will find a wholesaler of 'empurau' fish to bring the fish to the market," he said.

The Head of the Rumah Assan Development Bureau, Kulim Anak Madah, 38, thanked the government for choosing the Long House Village of Nanga Engkuah Long House Village for the MADANI Village Adoption programme.

 "I am very grateful to the government...Now we have a pedestrian bridge connecting the three long houses, but some are already worn out and the structure is no longer safe," he said.

A community nurse, Margaret Anak Kaya, 51, hoped that the government could consider building a bridge across the Katibas River to connect the Nanga Engkuah Health Clinic and the Nanga Engkuah Government School with the Nanga Engkuah Longhouse Village.

"Most of us here are old people. They have to wait for the boat because that is the only transport that can connect this area to schools and clinics," she said.

— BERNAMA