KUCHING: Eight villages in Bau some 45km from here will see enhanced standard of living and extended economic activities once a Rural Electrification Scheme (RES) project is implemented in the district.

Minister of Public Utilities Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said the RES project worth RM8.5 million would be completed next year to bring convenience to vagers.

Launching the project at Dewan Masyarakat Krokong, Bau near here yesterday, he said the power to be provided by 2013 would offer lighting to rural folks and also prepare them to enter diverse economic activities.

“It is not just for the convenience of villagers but also to enable them to go up another level in terms of economy like spurring the cottage industry in the villages concerned.

“Some quarters like pointing finger at us, but bad for them, we do our job and look into the needs of our rural people.

“However, we want the people to understand that we cannot do everything overnight. We are aware that some villages in rural areas are without electricity and water supply, but we are doing

the very best we can to provide them the amenities.”

The villages included Batu Spit, Pisa, Peros, Pengkalan Tebang and Ledan Gumbang.

Awang Tengah, who is also Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management and Minister of Industrial Development, thus called on the people to rally behind Barisan Nasional (BN) come the 13th general election.

He said he could understand the desire for change, but cautioned that people should be mindful of the type of changes they signed up for.

“People talk so much about change, ubah, ubah, ubah … Yes; we want to see change, but not the kind going backward. Only with BN could we move way forward.

“We want BN to continue bringing development especially to rural folks, so give your support to BN during the coming general election.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Dr James Dawos advised the folks to approach him if they were interested in applying for a franchise agreement to run Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KRIM) in their villages.

The Mambong MP said more KRIM would be set up nation-wide following Budget 2013 tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Sept 28.

“With Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia, people can purchase goods at more affordable prices.”

On Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BRIM), Dawos said the registration would start next month while the financial aids would be doled out January next year.

“Those who received their first BRIM do not need to register because we have the records in the database, and they will automatically get it again.

“As for those who missed it the first time, register with your respective district offices in November so that you will get the money in January 2013.”

Also present were Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Water Supply) Datuk Sylvester Entri, Assistant Minister of Public Health Dr Jerip Susil, Assistant Minister of Resource Planning Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, State Legislative Assembly deputy speaker Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn and Kuching Resident Abdul Rahman Sebli Senusi.