KUCHING – The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has enjoined leaders of the Sarawak government of federal leaders in Putrajaya to do more to improve the lives of the rural communities in Sarawak.
Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah said that he has personally heard grouses from the common folks who did not even have the basic of amenities such as treated water supply.
"The state government and federal government need to do more to improve the lives of the rural folks," he said at a state banquet last night.
"There are still many who do not even have the very basic of amenities. I visited a place where there was no treated water.
"I have received letters and heard grouses from the folks who are still living in difficult conditions.
"He said that while he promised to help do his best to look into their plight, he hoped that all state assembly representatives and MPs will visit their constituents on the ground and look into these greviances.
"Go to the rakyat and address their problems," he said. Also present was Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.
The King said this during the banquet held in conjunction with his tour of Pan Borneo Highway routes in Sabah and Sarawak which began on September 3.
He described his encounters and observations during the lengthy journey as being very useful.
It has allowed him and the queen to see for themselves the condition of the are where the highway passes through, he said.
The king emphasised that developing a state is a shared responsibility between the state government and the federal government.
"Both state and federal leaders must work in unision," he stressed. "The state and national leaders must meet often to address the greviances of the rakyat.
The royal couple have ended their tour of the Pan Borneo Highway covering some 2,145km across east Malaysia and Brunei.
They will grace the Malaysia Day grand celebration in Kuching on September 16. -- The Vibes, September 13, 2023
