DAP SABAH HANDOVER CHEQUE AMOUNTING RM33,000 FOR SIX VILLAGES

DAP Sabah together with its Impian Sabah team has organized a dialogue and handover cheque ceremony at Kg Dowokon, Pitas to show support to the villagers comprising of a population of 3,000 as well as six villages by helping them to build a road to connect their villages with the nearby town.

ADUN Likas-cum-DAP Sabah Organizing Secretary Junz Wong, DAP Sabah Assistant Organizing Secretary Henry Shim, DAP Sabah Assistant Secretary Tan Lee Fatt and DAPSY Sabah Publicity Secretary Phoong Jin Zhe also attended the ceremony and witnessed this remarkable event.

Pastor Maklin Masiau who calls Kg Dowokon “The Lost World” due to its inaccessibility has been working tirelessly to have a 7.4km road built between the nearest township, Pitas and his village.

Despite repeated promises by the Barisan Nasional government to build the road since 1999, the villagers' calls and prayers have been neglected. The villagers are completely reliant on river transport via Sungai Bengkoka which has become increasing shallow and difficult to navigate due to extensive siltation. As a result, a 12km river journey may take more than 2 hours to complete.

Impian Sabah first heard of the plight of Kg Dowokon and 5 other neighbouring villages from Pastor Maklin in June this year. The other villages are Mandamai, Kobon Seberang, Perupok, Maliau Pusat and Maliau Layung comprising of more than 3,000 Dusun villagers. Subsequently, we made 3 project site visits and confirmed our full support for the project on 28 August.

Impian Sabah, a movement by the Democratic Action Party (DAP), is very pleased today to hand over funds amounting to RM33,000 for supplies and costs incurred to complete Phase 1 of the Pitas Road Project. In this phase, contractors were engaged for clearing the last 3.8km of the road, an effort initiated by the local villages.

With the completion of the first phase of this project, the villagers can immediately enjoy the benefits of the road in their daily lives. They don't have to rely solely on the water level of the river to travel in and out. They can sell their cash crops easily and the children can attend the school nearer to the village.

However currently, road accessibility is still dependent on weather conditions. If it rains heavily, then the conditions of the road will be too hazardous even for four-wheel drive vehicles.

Malaysians all over the country are moved by the enormous effort started by the villagers here, and are disheartened by the long neglect they have suffered in Sabah, which used to be among the richest states in the country.

Hence, Impian Sabah is pleased to pledge our continued support to complete Phase 2 of Pitas Road Project with the locals from these villages. The main objective of the next phase is installation of basic infrastructure (culverts and drainage) to the road.

We would also like to invite the public or private donors to support this project through financial means or expertise. Our aim is to complete the basic access road before the end of 2014. Your support will definitely make a difference to the project.

STEPHEN WONG TIEN FATT
Deputy Chairman, DAP Sabah
MP for Sandakan
DAP Impian Sabah Coordinator