SARIKEI – The federal and state governments reaffirmed their commitment to improving community welfare in Sarikei through the continuation of People-Friendly Projects (Projek Mesra Rakyat or PMR), with a verification visit carried out on Wednesday at several key locations in the parliamentary constituency.
The visit was led by Captain Ling Dien Yong, representing Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability and Sarikei MP, Dato Sri Huang Tiong Sii. Also present were Nina Azrina Azis from the Sarawak State Development Office (Sri Aman Zone) and Mohamad Tajuddin Yusof from the Sarikei District Office.
Among the project sites visited was Kwong Fu Cemetery along Ranyon Road, where development works included the construction of a cemented access road, a new rest hut, and general cleaning and maintenance of the cemetery grounds.
The team also inspected two longhouses – Rumah Panjang Sabah Sawong in Selangan and Rumah Tlajan Lat along Jalan Kim San – where electrical rewiring and safety upgrades were recently carried out under the PMR initiative. These upgrades are vital to ensuring safe and reliable electricity for longhouse residents.
Officials reiterated that these projects are part of the government’s broader effort to uplift the quality of life, particularly in semi-urban and rural communities. The initiatives address daily needs such as infrastructure improvements, community safety, and basic facility access.
“Projects like these reflect the government’s continued concern and commitment to grassroots development,” said Captain Ling. “They are more than physical upgrades – they symbolise support for the people’s well-being.”
The People-Friendly Project is a nationwide initiative designed to directly respond to local needs and is implemented through close coordination between federal, state, and district-level agencies.