Kiulu Is Fast Developing

TAMPARULI, Oct 8 (Bernama) -- Kiulu, which was once a small remote town located close to the virgin jungles near the Crocker Range, is now witnessing rapid development.
The rows of old wooden shophouses has been long replaced by new and modern buildings. Even the SMK Tun Fuad Stephens Kiulu building that once had zinc roofs and wooden walls has been replaced with concrete building.
In fact, Kiulu located at the Tuaran district is undergoing positive transformation in all aspects including public amenities that has greatly benefited its 20,000 residents.
Other than this, the Sungai Kiulu that flows nearby is increasingly gaining attention as an interesting tourism destination in Sabah not only because of its crystal clear waters but also because of its rapids that makes it suitable for extreme sports activities.
Each year the Kiulu 4M Challenge event is held here with the participants from within and without the state converging to either watch or participate in activities like running, bamboo rafting, swimming with bamboo and walking with bamboo stilts.
Due to the encouraging response, the Sabah state government has listed the event in the state tourism calendar that puts Kiulu in the world tourism map.

KIULU CENTRE FOR RIVER BASED ACTIVITIES

"I have noticed a lot of changes in Kiulu, after Sabah gained independence through Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963. For example since the last five years many roads have been upgraded and many villages have been enjoying electricity," noted Kiulu state assemblyman Datuk Louis Rampas to Bernama, here.
Louis pointed out that the government spent more than RM50 million to upgrade or to tar the road from Tomis (near Nabalu town) to Lokos and the Pukak-Mantob road under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.
This does not include at least the 10 recently completed or upgraded village roads including the Bongol-Parad road and several suspension bridges across rivers.
"If all goes well both the Tomis-Lokos and the Pukak-Mantob roads are expected to be ready soon, making life easier for the villagers and boosting further the economic activities," he said.
Louis noted that an application has been submitted for the construction of tarred road connecting Mantob with Tobobon under the Tenth Malaysia Plan."This road is important as it completes the shortcut between Batu 28 Jalan Penampang-Tambunan with Tamparuli town through Kampung Mantob, Kiulu.
"At the same time the Pukak-Lokub-Pahu road needs to be upgraded. The matter has been brought to the attention of the Rural and Regional Development Ministry," he said.
Prior to this, Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal had announced a RM2 billion allocation to implement a number of rural projects in Sabah in the next three years.
Louis hoped that the Pukak-Lokub-Pahu road project would be given priority, fulfilling the people's desire there who were all this while hoping that the road will be upgraded.

VILLAGES IN THE KIULU VALLEY SUB DISTRICT ENJOY ELECTRICITY

He noted that the state government also pays attention on the efforts to provide greater access to electricity in Kiulu, and since early this year 24 villages in the Lembah sub district have been enjoying 24-hour electricity.
"Based on the feedback, thousands of the villagers in the Lembah sub district are thankful to the government for providing electricity after waiting for so long," he said adding that the residents in Lembah sub district previously were depending on kerosene lamps and generators.
Other than roads and electricity, he said the government has set up a rural clinic at Kampung Kouluan and is planning a similar clinic in Kampung Tiong Tomburong for the well-being of the people in Lembah sub district located at the foothills of Kinabalu Mountain - the highest mountain in Southeast Asia.
"We also emphasise on the children's education in Kiulu. Regarding this, the Education Ministry will be building another secondary school in Kiulu, namely the SMK Nabalu valued at RM35 million with the construction expected to begin in two months time," he said adding that almost all primary schools in Kiulu have computer facilities to enable school children to familiarise with information technology.

KIULU RESIDENTS SATISFIED WITH DEVELOPMENT

It is obvious that the Kiulu residents are satisfied with the rate of development implemented by the government especially since the last 10 years.
"Compared with two decades ago, many changes can be seen in Kiulu. Many villages are now enjoying basic amenities like electricity, clean water, village roads and community halls," said the People's Development Leader for Kiulu, Sami Bangud.Nonetheless,
Sami proposed that the villages without roads must be given urgent attention especially the Mantob-Tobobon and Jalan Pukak-Lokub-Pahu road.
"I also proposed that the rural clinics be increased in Kiulu. If possible remote areas like Kampung Mantob, Tobobon and Lokos must be given priority," said Jonuin Mansamal, a community leader in Kampung Rugading, Kiulu.
Other than this, he hoped that the Kiulu agricultural office be reopened because the majority of the Kiulu residents are farmers involved in rubber and paddy cultivation.Jonuin also proposed that a mini post office be set up at the Nabalu town and at Kampung Pukak so that the dwellers of both places need not go up to Tamparuli for postal services.

KIULU HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR ORGANIC VEGETABLES

A resident, Tiong Ratau Jostinus Baragus, noted that other than providing basic amenities like electricity, water and village roads, the government should also pay attention in improving the economic standing of the people in Kiulu.
"I see that there is need to diversify agricultural activities in Kiulu. At present the people of Kiulu are fully dependent on rubber as their source of income.
"I was told that Kiulu is suitable and has the potential to grow organic vegetables...maybe the villagers with the cooperation of the Agriculture Department can try their hands on this to seek additional income. So is the ginger and pineapple cultivation," he said.
Midin Lobintang from Kampung Mantob also welcomed the various government initiatives to develop Kiulu.
"Previously my village had no roads and we have to walk to the nearest town in Pukak. Now the road from Pukak to Mantob is being upgraded to tarred road.
"So is the electricity supply. Previously it was difficult to listen to the radio or watch television, now everyday we can hear songs in the Dusun language including my favourite "Sayang Kinabalu". Me and my family are grateful to the government for helping the people," he said.
Midin is confident that the 1Malaysia concept introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak that gives priority to the people will bring greater success for Kiulu, and provide new hope for thousands of Kiulu residents.
-- BERNAMA