Uggah fields questions from reporters when met after an event. – File photo

KUCHING: The Sarawak government has approved RM50 million to finance the repairs and also construction of longhouses this year.

According to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has approved the fund, following the unavailability of allocation from the federal government this year.

On this year’s allocation from the state government, Uggah said it should benefit families from 1,667 doors, with a maximum assistance of RM30,000 each.

Previously, the federal side had been providing the fund meant for repair/rebuilding works on longhouses in Sarawak.

Specifically, Uggah said since 2007, the federal government had given a total of RM122.3 million slated for the programme, which had benefited families from 3,432 doors in 163 longhouses.

However, this federal funding had decreased from RM50 million in 2016, to RM10 million in 2018 and also last year, despite the yearly rise in the number of applications from the longhouse dwellers, Uggah said in a statement, issued following a meeting held yesterday to decide the beneficiaries of this year’s longhouse repair/construction programme.

Chaired by Uggah, the meeting also involved Local Government and Housing Minister Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing Datu Dr Penguang Manggil, Assistant Minister in Chief Minister’s Department (Native Laws and Customs) Datuk John Sikie Tayai, and officers from Dr Sim’s ministry.