Headline VILLAGERS` DAILY LIFE MADE BRIGHTER MediaTitle The Star Date 20 Feb 2018 Language English Circulation 338,368 Readership 1,032,000 Section Nation Page No 13 ArticleSize 965 cm² Journalist KATHLEEN ANN KILI PR Value RM 145,695 VILLAGERS' DAILY LIFE MADE BRIGHTER Afezan Suhaimi Making a difference: Najib launching the handing over of streetlights ceremony at Bukit Mor. Looking on are (from left to right) Muar MP Datuk Seri Razali Ibrahim, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Najib's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Ismail and TIMB chief executive officer and president Datuk Seri Ir Azman Mohd. (Pictured right) Villagers are all praise for the LJK programme. Misnah By KATHLEEN ANN KILI [email protected] fef Now we don't MUAR: Some 60,000 residents from 16 villages here can now have to rush to move at night with ease as their complete out chores once dark neighbourhoods are now lit, thanks to the installation of before the sun sets streetlights. A total of 183 streetlights have as we can still go been installed in the Muar parlia- around the village mentary between August and December last year under the without having to state-level eighth phase of the worry much about Village Streetlights Installation pro- f gramme (LJK). our safety. This was part of the programme to install 13,582 streetlights in 1,556 Misnah Mohd Jelis villages statewide with an alloca- tion of RM8.33mil by the the LED-type and the rest will be Government through the Rural and the High Pressure Sodium Vapour Regional Development Ministry. (HPSV). Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib "The LED ones will be installed Tun Razak launched the handing at strategic areas and junctions at over of the streetlights ceremony at main roads," he said in his address Padang Awam Bukit Mor here on to the crowd. Feb 9. During his speech, Najib Lighting the way: TNB is playing an important role in realising the Government's hopes for sufficient and The LJK project was launched in announced additional allocations guaranteed electricity supply to the people, especially those living in rural parts. 2003 under the Rural Electricity for installation of lights in villages Supply programme, which was nationwide. under KKLW supervision with allo- "Now we don't have to rush to Air Hitam - Muar villages chief Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri cations from Akaun Amanah "Firstly through TNB (Tenaga complete out chores before the sun (penghulu) Mohd Afezan Yahya Yaakob and TNB chief executive Industri Bekalan Elektrik. Nasional Bhd), which will allocate sets as we can still go around the said that some 9,000 residents in officer and president Datuk Seri Ir RMSOmil for LED-type streetlights TNB, as the implementing agen- village or to the nearby mini mar- six main villages have benefited Azman Mohd. cy, has successfully installed in villages. kets without having to worry much from the programme. Ismail said that the Government "In addition to this, the 333,781 units in 11,898 villages in about our safety. "Residents have responded well, has spent some RM245mil to install the peninsula and Sabah. Government approves another "Before, it was especially difficult as they now can conduct more over 317,000 units of streetlights at As such, TNB has played its role RMSOmil to ensure the total this to move around the surau at night nightly activities such as futsal for villages under the 8th to 11th in realising the Government's year - RMlOOmil will involve due to the lack of lighting but since the younger generation. Malaysia Plans. 50,000 units of streetlights," he hopes for sufficient and guaran- the lights were added, we visit the "It has also greatly helped villag- He said that from the total, said. teed electricity supply to the peo- place with ease," she said. ers conduct better and safer 258,000 lamp posts were installed The initiative and additional allo- ple, especially those living in rural Farmer Suhaimi Mat Jeni, 49, patrolling during night time," he throughout the peninsula while parts. cations were lauded by the people from Kampung Parit Temang, also said adding that TNB has been effi- Sabah and Sarawak received especially those who came from Apart from brightening the area, expressed his gratitude, adding ciently installing the lights in phas- 31,811 units and 27,259 units the locations selected for the LJK villages involved in the pro- that the village has sufficient lights es. respectively. gramme. projects also emphasise on strate- since installation works com- He added that the additional He added that the Prime Among them was housewife gic areas such as junctions of main menced some five years ago. allocation would definitely help Minister had also announced roads. Misnah Mohd Jelis, 63, from "The lights came in by phases more communities in rural areas RMlOOmil allocation for 110,000 Besides improving the Kampung Parit Haji Ah, who and now, every three houses has a to be equipped with better ameni- units of village streetlights to be thanked the Government for the streetlight, which has helped socio-economy of the local commu- ties. installed nationwide under Budget nities, it has also helped curb crime initiative that has. truly made a dif- reduce the risk of accidents in the The event was also attended by 2017. ference in her village. area," he added. and strengthen human capital Rural and Regional Development "From this, 6,333 units will be activities. .