TAMBUNAN: The Barisan Nasional is fully aware of the plight of those who live at poverty level and have taken various steps to ensure they are not left behind.

Tambunan Assemblyman, Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan said several programmes had been implemented to ensure that the poor could lead sustainable lives.

He said the government does not only favour the well off and those living in the urban areas, but enough has been done and will be done to ensure the poor in the rural areas enjoy the fruits of development.

However he stressed that the people, no matter how poor they are, should strive to ensure that they can eventually become self sufficient and stop being dependent on government hand outs.

Earlier, Pairin had presented keys to houses, generator sets, chain saws, grass cutters and safety equipment to a group of hardcore poor in the district.

Later he joined in a group in a gotong royong to clean up the tamu grounds in the town area, where he said a clean town would help attract more tourists.

At another function where he released some 3,000 talapia fish fry into the Pegalan river, Pairin urged those staying along the river to ensure it was kept clean so that river life would not end up being destroyed.