KUCHING: The Sarawak Federation of Chinese Associations wants the state government to consider alienating agricultural lands to non-Bumiputera low-income groups to enable them to earn their living.
This was among the 12 requests outlined in a memorandum submitted by the federation to Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem during a closed-door courtesy call on the latter here today.
The federation president, Datuk Wong Aik Loung, who led the group told reporters after the courtesy call that Adenan had responded positively to the request.
Wong said this request was in line with the government's transformation policy to ensure that every citizen had a house and every farmer possessed agricultural land.
"Furthermore, this will spur the development of the state's agricultural industry," he said.
Wong said the federation also requested the government to consider providing a systematic and consistent annual financial assistances to Chinese primary and secondary schools in the state, which had all the while being funded by the community themselves.
"The long run financial support has become a liability and burden to the Chinese communities as the cost of maintenance and management of the schools are high," he added.
Other requests that the federation had submitted to Adenan include appointments of Chinese community leaders, more direct international flights to Sarawak, direct maritime services, improvement in the state's infrastructure, health services and security preparedness. -- BERNAMA
