KUCHING, August 22: Harapan Orang Asli Sarawak (HOAS), or Hope of Sarawak Natives), hopes the government will address issues such as airfares and seat availability between the peninsula and Sarawak and also overcrowding problems on express boats during festive seasons.
HOAS chairman Leighton Manjah raised these issues when he led several members to pay a courtesy call on Works Minister Baru Bian recently.
During the meeting, Baru clarified that roads within the perimeters of airports, ports, universities and the Pan Borneo Highway are under his ministry. However, roads such as the Kanowit-Song-Kapit Road are under the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development.
The Jiwa Murni road projects are also not under the Works Ministry.
Meanwhile, HOAS urged the state government to work with the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development to construct more access roads in the rural areas.
On this year’s Christmas celebration, HOAS plans to hold a pre-Christmas gala dinner sometime in November. It hoped Baru would be its dinner patron.
Accompanying Leighton were HOAS pro tem committee members, including its deputy chairman Gerald Yahya Urud, secretary Dickson George, treasurer Stephen Dinggai and committee members Narok Ukin, Jona Kerani and Henry Wan and Dr Ajau Danis. — DayakDaily
