LIMBANG, Aug 5: Limbang will be connected to Brunei once the 12km link road is implemented says Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said the road connectivity, which will link Limbang to Brunei via the Limbang Bridge, was vital for the socio-economic development of Limbang.
Abang Johari said Limbang was by-passed by the Pan-Borneo Highway.
“Since KL (Kuala Lumpur) refused to link it, we will link it ourselves. We will build the road to link Limbang and Brunei in order to have better access with our neighbour, Brunei.
“I have paid a courtesy call on the Sultan of Brunei recently on our decision to build the road and His Majesty consented with our suggestion,” Abang Johari said at Meet-the-people-session in Limbang today.
He disclosed that Limbang and Lawas which fall under the Northern Region Development Agency (NRDA) have great potential especially in agriculture and other resources.
“The State Government has allocated RM1.5 billion for NRDA in order to develop both Limbang and Lawas so that the region too can be as developed as other regions in Sarawak,” he said.
Abang Johari, who is currently on a two-day working visit to Limbang and Lawas pointed out that under the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), the State Government will ensure that all regions in Sarawak will be developed concurrently as it has extra income from the five percent sales tax from oil and gas.
“This is our pledge in GPS. That we want to develop Sarawak. Now that we are no longer tied up with other political parties outside Sarawak, we are free to implement our development agenda that will bring benefit to all Sarawakians.
“This is our promise in GPS. So, hopefully in the next five year, we will implement projects that will bring more development to Sarawak,” he stressed.
At the same time, the Chief Minister stated that it is Putrajaya’s obligation to provide the funds to Sarawak as stipulated under the Federal Constitution.
“All our taxes, such as the corporate tax, income tax and road tax go to the Federal Government. So, in return, it has to assist us in our development. It is an obligation under the Federal Constitution,” he stressed.
However, since federal government has not been fulfilling its obligations, Abang Johari said Sarawak government has to think of other income sources.
With the imposition of five per cent sales tax on oil and gas, he said Sarawak managed to get an additional RM3 billion which has been used for development.
Abang Johari further disclosed that in the recent visit of the Prime Minister’s special advisor Tun Daim Zainuddin, Daim had praised Sarawak for its “structured development”.
“It’s a good remark from a Prime Minister’s special advisor and we welcomed his remarks. Since we are doing well, we will continue to do so.
“We in GPS will make sure that we will look after our house properly so that those living in the house can have a good life,” said Abang Johari.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also announced the construction of a 1.4 km waterfront for Limbang which will be the longest waterfront in Sarawak. — DayakDaily
