Jabu (fourth left) and Dr Rundi (third left) shake hands with the local community leaders upon their arrival at the Sebauh Community Hall.

SEBAUH: Sebauh sub-district, together with eight others, will be upgraded to a full district effective Aug 1 this year, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang.

He said the eight other sub-districts were Beluru, Telang Usan, Subis, Bukit Mabong, Tanjung Manis, Kabong, Pusa and Tebedu, while Serian District would be elevated to a division on the same date.

“Making the nine sub-districts into full districts will enable them to have a district officer, administrative officer and be equipped with better infrastructure,” he said during the Sebauh sub-district pre-Gawai dinner at Sebauh Community Hall on Saturday night.

He said once upgraded into a full district, there would be some changes and expansion on the existing organisational structure, including government departments, and improvements would be made from time to time.

“I am confident that Sebauh will be able to move further with rapid development enjoyed by the district in the past ten years,” said Jabu.

He pointed out that the development enjoyed by the people in Sebauh all these years was the result of the contribution and efforts by Kemena assemblyman Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom who had been carrying out his duties with full commitment.

Looking back at history, he said Sebauh had always been the stronghold of Barisan Nasional (BN) since its first assemblyman, Datuk Seri Temenggong Abok Jalin, who was later replaced by Tan Sri Celestine Ujang and now Rundi. He thus hoped that people in the Kemena constituency would continue to give strong support to the BN leadership to ensure sustainable development.

“At the same time, the government has drawn up an effective development plan to develop Kemena area by setting up a ferry service connecting Bintulu town, Sebauh town and Ulu Sebauh including Pandan, Binyo, Tubau and Jelalong areas,” said Jabu.

For the time being, the government, through the Public Works Department with help from other agencies is in the process of setting up electricity and water supply in Sebauh areas to enable rural residents to enjoy basic amenities.

Earlier, Dr Rundi thanked the state government for making Sebauh a full district, which he said showed that the people in Sebauh were not left out of development as claimed by some quarters.

During the event, Jabu announced a RM20,000 grant for the Sebauh Social Activities Committee to carry out their annual programmes.

Among those present were Bintulu Resident Muhamad Yakup Kari, Deputy State Secretary (Security, Administrative and Corporate Affairs) Datu Ose Murang, Temenggong Utong Sigan, Penghulu Lanyau Ruma, political secretary to the chief minister Jenny Bangga and businessman Tan Sri Yee Ming Seng.