Abdul Karim: BN reps must be proactive, vocal

 

by Wilfred Pilo. Posted on February 10, 2011, Thursday

KUCHING: Barisan Nasional (BN) elected representatives must be proactive in bringing development projects to their respective constituencies.
They must also not be complacent but instead make full use of the government’s assistance to ensure the rakyat reap and enjoy the fruits of development.
Asajaya assemblyman Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah who said this yesterday also reminded them that as elected representatives, they must be vocal enough to voice out the needs of the people in their respective constituencies, especially with regards to development.
He also told them that they must be able to liaise with all relevant government agencies to ensure that projects are implemented smoothly and completed within the time frame.
“There should not be any problem for development projects if funds are available for each constituency,” he said when contacted.
Abdul Karim, who is also the chief political secretary to the chief minister, said that all elected representatives must work closely with heads of government agencies such as Residents, district officers and divisional engineers, and Department of Drainage and Irrigation.
He reminded the representatives that by liaising with these heads of departments, they should know how the projects are administered.
He explained that once funding comes from the federal level to the state ministry, it should not be diverted elsewhere and the same should apply once it reaches the divisional or district level.
He brushed aside suggestions that the government diverts funds for development projects unless there is a pressing or urgent need to do so for the good of the community, disclosing that in his constituency he did divert some of his funds to a longhouse that was razed by a fire due to urgency and on humanitarian ground.
He advised representatives not to be just close to the people but also establish good rapport with federal and state government agencies to ensure that their development projects are carried out according to plan.
Besides that, Abdul Karim encouraged all assemblymen to consult their more experienced counterparts to ensure that development projects will benefit their constituents.
Belaga assemblyman Liwan Lagang, when contacted, said being a representative in the rural constituency, he must constantly be vocal and keep requesting the government for projects to uplift the livelihood of the rural folks.
He said for the past four years since being elected he did not face any major problem when dealing with development projects in his area, citing the Klinik
Desa issue in Belaga that had been resolved and the completion of the water treatment plant.
He praised various department heads and community leaders in his constituency for their hard work in ensuring that the people were not deprived of development
Balai Ringin assemblyman Snowdan Lawan agreed that all BN representatives be proactive and vocal.
He explained that they must continue to help the people as the government had already set the foundation for them to ensure the people enjoy continuous development and improved livelihood.
The emphasis on basic infrastructure development projects must be of paramount importance so that people could have roads, electricity and water supply and be linked to the outside world, added Snowdan who had been serving his constituency for four years.