KUCHING – A total of RM87,000 in annual neighbourhood grants has been handed to 29 Community Management Bodies (KJM) under Kuching North City Hall (DBKU), reinforcing grassroots programmes across the Petra Jaya parliamentary belt.
The cheque presentation, held at Surau Nurul Muslimin in Kampung Sungai Bedil Besar on Sunday, saw each KJM receive RM3,000 to finance social, welfare and civic initiatives throughout 2024.
Datuk Amar Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof, Deputy Prime Minister and Member of Parliament for P194 Petra Jaya, led the ceremony. He reminded recipients that modest sums can still deliver visible change when neighbours pool talents and time. “Unity grows when citizens lead,” he told the audience of village heads, youth volunteers and DBKU officers.
The grant covers three state seats within Petra Jaya: N6 Samariang, N7 Tupong and N8 Satok. Together they embrace 29 KJM units, small elected committees that maintain public facilities, mediate local disputes and organise gotong-royong clean-ups.
Kuching North Mayor Dato Haji Hilmy bin Haji Othman applauded the initiative, noting that KJM projects last year planted 1,200 shade trees, upgraded five prayer halls and delivered grocery packs to 400 seniors. He expects a similar ripple effect this year now that every committee is funded before the second quarter.
Ramzi bin Abdillah, DBKU director, said councils will monitor spending through simplified e-claims. “We want receipts, photos and attendance sheets. Transparency keeps residents confident,” he added.
The Petra Jaya allocation mirrors a nationwide push to strengthen Malaysia MADANI values at street level. Federal lawmakers channel neighbourhood grants via the Implementation Coordination Unit, a department under the Prime Minister’s Office. Sarawak received RM7.3 million in 2023; Petra Jaya’s share rose 12% after a needs survey showed higher youth density and ageing longhouses.
Among projects already proposed are:
- A mobile health screening van in Samariang, co-funded by a private clinic.
- Weekly football training for girls in Tupong, spearheaded by former state players.
- Repair of a 40-year-old wooden walkway in Satok, linking 70 riverine households to the main road.
Resident Siti Zafirah binti Jelani, 34, who chairs KJM Section 7 Samariang, hopes to use the grant for LED streetlights along a dark lane used by schoolchildren. “We have the quotation. Lights cost RM2,800. The balance will buy reflective vests for our safety squad,” she said.
Youth volunteer Alexson Andrew from Kampung Tabuan Hilir plans to convert an idle plot into a compost hub. “Food waste from the market can become fertiliser for our mini-garden. We will sell produce and top up the KJM purse,” he explained.
Sunday’s event also recognised top-performing KJM units. Tupong’s Lorong 8 Rukun Tetangga won a plaque for 98% attendance at council meetings, while Satok’s KJM Sungai Maong earned praise for zero dengue cases last year.
Datuk Fadillah, who grew up in Kampung Semerah Padi, reminded recipients that every sen is amanah, trust. “Post your progress on community Facebook pages. Let taxpayers see blossoms from these RM3,000 seeds,” he urged.
DBKU will audit projects by December. Outstanding teams stand to double their 2025 grant, subject to council budgeting.
