KUCHING: The Federal Government never neglected the welfare of rural folks in Sarawak as claimed by the opposition pact, Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today.

In asserting this, Ismail said his ministry had allocated a substantial amount of funds for rural development for Sarawak.

“The Federal Government allocated RM5.4 billion in allocation for rural development, out of which 27 per cent or RM1.8 billion is meant for Sarawak.

“The ministry had also allocated RM300 million from the Federal Government for Housing Assistance Programme (PBR) whereby RM88 million or 30 per cent will be disbursed for Sarawak.

“These two initiatives are proof that people in rural areas of Sarawak have never been deprived,” he said in his speech at a gathering of Association of Former Members of KEMAS here today.

Ismail, who is a Barisan Nasional Member of Parliament, said it was important to ensure that the Federal and state governments were represented by the same party for a sustainable development programme.

The opposition, said Ismail, could not deliver the aspiration. “They are not capable of bringing development to the people.

They are “saudagar mimpi” (merchant of dreams) and they cannot deliver the vision longed by Sarawakians.”-nst