By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, April 6: Long Terawan will be linked to Miri in four years’ time, says Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said the plan to build a road from Miri to Marudi by cutting through Sungai Tutoh to Long Terawan is already in the plan.
“I have already planned to build a road from Miri to Marudi, and from Marudi all the way to Long Terawan.
“The road will take time, like Adenan (former Chief Minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem) said, you can’t announce it today and expect the road to be completed tomorrow. It will take about four to five years to complete,” said Abang Johari while officiating at the launch of Sarawak Rural Broadband Network for Long Terawan at SK Penghulu Baya Mallang today.
It will be a new road and the alignment for the road has been determined where it will not follow the old road, he added.
Rallying villagers’ support for Mulu assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala, Abang Johari said there are other road building plans in store for Long Terawan but he would not disclose them until he wins the upcoming Sarawak election.
On the villagers’ request to upgrade the logging road linking Long Terawan to Long Atip, he said the request has been taken into consideration.
“I don’t dare to commit yet but if Gerawat (Gala) is able to defend the seat, this can be settled,” said Abang Johari.
On the request of the villagers for a gallery, he said the project has been approved by Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah with an allocation of RM400,000.
On the request for Native Customary Rights (NCR) land at Kampung Long Terawan to be measured using perimeter survey under Section 6, and later Section 18, Abang Johari said it can be done as the request came from the villagers.
“But if there are some quarters spinning the story of the government grabbing land, don’t keep silent but state the truth.
“There are people who have received the land titles, but keep silent and criticise the government. These are the people who threw the stones and quickly hid their hands (‘tikam lindung tangan’),” said Abang Johari. — DayakDaily
