State govt to reimburse 320 Rajang Park families for septic tank installation
Tiang (left) visits one of the affected houses and families at Rajang Park.
SIBU (June 6): The state government will reimburse 320 families in Rajang Park who had independently funded the installation of individual septic tanks after the area's central sewerage system became defunct.
Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Datuk Michael Tiang, said these families were identified over the years through a process of verification and documentation.
He said many had passed on while some had moved overseas.
'If you think that you are qualified, do not hesitate to contact my Pahlawan Service Centre to claim the reimbursement,' he told reporters after visiting Rajang Park to look into the issue last night.
Rajang Park, developed in the 1970s, originally had all its residential and commercial toilets connected to a central sewerage system located next to the Rajang Park Market.
However, after nearly four decades, the system failed, leaving many homes and shophouses unable to use their toilets, causing significant hardship for the residents.
As a result, many of them forked out their own expenses to build their own individual septic tanks as the central sewerage system needed to be abandoned.
Tiang recalled that in 2018, while serving as Political Secretary to Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, he personally assessed the situation after receiving complaints from the residents.
'During the 2018 General Election, I submitted a petition to the Premier to ask for RM3 million to deal with these problems, including abandoning the central system and giving them individual septic tanks and to also repair the toilets,' he said.
Following that, the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) engaged a contractor to carry out the necessary repairs and installations for most of the residential homes.
Commercial shophouses remained connected to the central system, albeit through a new underground sewerage network.
Tiang, who made a promise during the 2021 State Election to reimburse homeowners who had spent their own money on the issue, said he has finally secured approval from the Premier to fulfill that pledge.
'With the Premier's blessing, we can now compensate the remaining 320 homeowners. I plan to go door to door to assure them that the money is ready.'
'We will fix a date soon, and I urge all eligible residents to come forward and claim the reimbursement. I am truly committed to ensuring the funds are delivered directly to the rightful homeowners,' he added.
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