Six more Mesej to overcome poverty in Sabah – CM

KEMABONG: The State Government plans to open up six new Mini Estet Sejahtera or Mesej under the Rural Development Ministry under its hardcore poverty eradication programme.

Musa launches Mini-Estate Sejahtera (MESEJ) in Kg Ulu Patian in Kemabong, Tenom. 

In the background are 33 new houses for the local people officiated by Musa earlier.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman said presently 44 Mesej areas had been set up in the various districts in the state benefitting more than 1,000 hardcore poor household heads.

Speaking to reporters after opening the Ulu Patian Mesej in Mukim Rundum here Friday, he said through the programme, the State Government was able to develop land and at the same time provide income for those living below the abject poor bracket in Sabah.

With the opening up of Ulu Patian Mesej, Kemabong the sub-district under Tenom now has four projects covering about 400 acres of land benefitting 132 hardcore poor households.

“We will continue with these efforts and we are planning to open up six more to make it 50 Mesej areas altogether to help the people,” he said, adding that it would be done with assistance from the Federal Government as well.

Earlier, Musa said it was the aspiration of the Barisan Nasional (BN) government to provide the assistance as it was very concerned with the plight of the people like those in Ulu Patian.

He said that when the people gave them the mandate, BN elected representatives knew they have to ensure they carry out the responsibility entrusted to them and that the people’s welfare are being taken good care.

“Unlike the opposition who only know how to talk and make empty promises,” he said.

The Chief Minister said as mentioned by Kemabong Assemblyman, Datuk Rubin Balang the road from Kemabong town to Kampung Ketabu in Mukim Rundum had cost about RM27 million but since Rubin had said that an additional RM10 million was still needed to complete the project he assured that he would check and approve it.

According to him, it should not be a problem for the government to spend millions of ringgit if it was for development to give outright benefit to the people.

He reiterated that the country and Sabah was fortunate to have Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as the Prime Minister who was very focus in helping the people as evident from his successful Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and Economic Transformation Programme (ETP).

Since election is just around the corner, he also reminded the people here to be wary of the tactics of the opposition leaders who would be making their rounds making all sorts of promises to them that they would not be able to fulfil.

He pointed to Selangor, which was among the top and most developed state in the country but now had fallen behind ever since its government was taken over by Pakatan Rakyat.

Meanwhile, Rural Development Minister Datuk Ewon Ebin and Rubin said the Mesej programme was Musa’s brainchild to eradicate poverty in Sabah.

Apart from rubber and palm oil, aquaculture was also among the core activities for the Mesej programmes.

Rubin in his speech said Kemabong, in particular was very grateful to Musa who had strived to provide whatever assistance needed by the people.

He said Musa had also created a history of sorts for Tenom as he was the only Chief Minister who had approved to excise about 7,000 acres from the Tomani Forest Reserve for the people.

He said the Chief Minister also told him that more forest reserve areas could be considered for alienation but not before the 7,000 acres had been fully developed.

Later, Musa accompanied by Ewon and Rubin as well as other leaders tap a rubber tree as a symbolic gesture to officially open Ulu Patian Mesej, which was implemented in collaboration with Sabah Rubber Industries Board (SRIB).