KUCHING: Plans are on the way to enhance and strengthen the Betong Division development, progress, and prosperity for the next 10 years.
Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said that a special workshop on this would be organised here, in July.
"We are going to invite and get valuable inputs from the many intellectuals and professionals.
"The Betong Division has produced many professionals and other graduates, including PhD holders, in various fields.
"We need to tap into their respective expertise, knowledge and experience to help us move forward in the current very challenging environment and future.
"We need the skill and knowledge to develop ourselves, our future generation in business, education and in other vocations," he said.
He said this at a pre-Gawai Dayak celebration of the Saribas Club on Sunday night.
On another matter, he said the people of Betong Division owed much to the Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg for forming the Betong Division Development Agency (BDDA) as the game changer for the division's next era of progress and prosperity.
"He has allocated the agency a budget of RM1.5 billion. We have decided that each state constituency in the Division get RM200 million from the amount to finance their own developments, plans, and programmes.
"If each constituency can spend their fund soon, then we can apply for the subsequent funding,” he said.
Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah also said the people made the right choice when the majority of them voted for Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidate, Dr Richard Rapu as Betong Member of Parliament in the last general election.
"As we have observed, he has been very active in voicing out our problems and expectations in the parliament.
"And of course, he is a great help to other leaders and me in planning for and strategising more development programmes and plans," he said.
Earlier in his speech, the club president Dr Richard himself was glad to note that the club, formed 30 years ago, had grown from strength to strength.
"We now have members from the second and third generations of Betong folks in the city.
"I hope more volunteers from among them will assist us in our programmes, notably our education outreach programmes," he said.
At the function, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah presented study incentives to outstanding students and appreciation awards to members with outstanding achievements. -UKASnews
