LUBOK ANTU – Development priorities, welfare concerns and community needs took centre stage during a Rural Transformation Project (RTP) talk and visit at Rumah Jimmy Guntor on Friday.
The event, jointly organised by the N.34 Batang Ai GPS Service Centre and the Rakut Lubok Antu Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK), drew around 400 participants.
It provided villagers a platform to raise concerns and propose initiatives aimed at improving local infrastructure and services.
Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, Sarawak Deputy Minister of International Trade, Industry and Investment, attended with his wife, Datin Dorothy Sylvester Pungga, highlighting the state government’s commitment to engaging directly with rural communities.
Topics discussed included property ownership transfers, gun licences, and applications for Administrative Power of Attorney (LA).
Villagers also raised broader issues such as the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and free education in state-owned higher learning institutions, reflecting a mix of local and national interests.
In development, proposals ranged from new hotels and tourism initiatives in Batang Ai and Lubok Antu to practical improvements like kitchen roofs, solar lighting, and road upgrades under the RTP framework.
To support these efforts, allocations were announced: RM10,000 for the Women’s Bureau and RM15,000 for the JKKK, ensuring resources for grassroots and welfare programmes.
The event was also attended by Lubok Antu District Officer Akoi Ejau and other local leaders, demonstrating the collaborative approach between government agencies and community representatives.
The programme reflects Sarawak’s broader strategy of strengthening rural development by addressing immediate needs while planning for long-term growth.
Combining welfare support with infrastructure and tourism projects, the initiative seeks to improve community well-being and create economic opportunities.
The discussions in Lubok Antu underscore the importance of ongoing dialogue between leaders and residents, ensuring that development projects remain responsive to local aspirations and contribute to inclusive progress across the state.
