Unity and collaboration will drive Penampang's overall development

23 May 2024

By AVV

PENAMPANG: The strength that comes from unity will enhance development in Penampang as aspired in its development plan.

Penampang Member of Parliament Datuk Ewon Benedick said unity is shown during the harvest festival celebration, where people from all walks of life came together and this is the strength of Kaamatan that should be celebrated.

Speaking during the Penampang Level Harvest Festival Celebration at Buhavan Square Dongonggon he elaborated on the Penampang Development Plan, stressing on the importance to recognise that the plan as a crucial guideline for the implementation of development initiatives in the region. It not only benefits the local authorities but also the people of Penampang as a whole.

Ewon, who is also the Penampang Member of Parliament, said the aim of this plan is to ensure that the development efforts are enjoyed and beneficial to everyone, from the residents of the villages to the municipality. By working together and receiving help and support from all leaders in the region, “we can form a strong team to drive the progress of Penampang.”

With effective administration and management, both at the village level and within the municipality, he said they can position Penampang as the second-largest municipality in Sabah, second only to Kota Kinabalu.

“Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to bring the Deputy Prime Minister who is also Minister of Rural Development and Territories, who oversees flood-related matters, to assess the flood issues in our region. We also engaged in discussions with the Chief Minister at that time to address flood mitigation strategies.

“Subsequently, I invited the Minister of Local Government Development Malaysia to address various local government issues in Penampang. It is important to recognise that our needs extend beyond just development; there are other considerations that we must prioritise as well,” he stressed.

“Relying solely on the council’s allocations or the allocations of our representatives will never be sufficient. That's why the Penampang development plan plays a crucial role in identifying the challenges and issues we face. Our collective task is to find the right initiatives and strategies to effectively implement the development plan, which we have collectively crafted.”

“During our district development action meetings in Penampang, delayed projects such as Tamu Dongonggon and the Health Clinic are often raised. We know, acknowledge and understand regarding the slow progress of these development initiatives.”

“As a responsible representative, it is my duty to ensure that these projects are expedited. An example of such progress can be seen in the successful implementation of the flood mitigation project from the Fire Department to Kg Hungab, which was previously delayed but has now been executed smoothly,” he said.

This accomplishment is the outcome of the collaborative efforts between leaders and the public administration within our district, he stated.

Also present during the event were community leaders such as Jannie Lasimbang Kapayan State Assemblywoman, United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) Deputy President Datuk Donald Mojuntin, Tan Sri Bernard G Dompok SME chairman, Datuk Phillip Lasimbang Yayasan Bank Rakyat (YBR) Chairman and District Officer Francis Chong who is also the event Organising Chairman.