By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Dec 4: Prime Minister Dato Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob hopes the people of Sarawak and Kapit will make the right decision come December 18 to retain the current GPS-led government, which has good relations with the Federal government to ease collaborative efforts and actions between the governments.
Close collaboration is crucial for the continuity of development, Ismail Sabri pointed out, which is evident in the RM24-million Sungai Yong Twin Bridge in Kapit, which may not have materialised if under a different administration.
“I think in this world, only Kapit has a twin bridge, so people in Kuala Lumpur or Peninsular Malaysia don’t have to be too proud of a Twin Tower.
“This (bridge) was implemented after my visit here during the past election. But, unfortunately, there was only a one-lane bridge that fits only one car, so I mentioned to Alex (Alexander Nanta Linggi, Kapit MP) that we need to bring this issue to the Cabinet because if a vehicle on one end were not able to see an oncoming car, they would collide.
“So I brought this matter to the then prime minister (Datuk Seri) Najib (Tun Razak). So today, we are here for the twin bridge. Najib launched the first bridge, and I launched the second one,” he said when addressing a Leaders with People programme held at Kapit Town Square, Kapit today.
With the close relations between the current Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government and the Federal government, Ismail Sabri hopes that people will not make a mistake choosing the right government in the 12th Sarawak Election.
He also dismissed many rumours and baseless accusations, especially from the Opposition, who played up sentiments to portray that the government does not care about people’s fate in Sarawak nearing elections.
“But all these developments clearly showed that the government always gives priority and due attention to the people of Sarawak. For example, when I was Rural Development Minister, 50 per cent of the budget was allocated to Sarawak and Sabah, and under 12MP, 50 per cent of the budget will go to Sarawak, Sabah and four other States in Peninsular Malaysia.
“People of Sarawak have always made the right choice, so I hope you will make the right choice this time as well.
“There are many projects to be approved, and if under a different government, it will complicate our works,” he added.
Ismail Sabri also raised the need to construct the road from Kapit-Song-Kanowit to Sibu, costing RM750 million after personally visiting Kapit when he was the Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs many years ago, which was a project approved during the Barisan Nasional (BN) era.
Even though a huge expenditure was incurred in the two projects, he stressed that it is certain to bring better development for Kapit and uplift the local community.
“With the new road and twin bridge, the economy in Kapit will accelerate and grow, and more tourists will come as it takes only two hours to reach Kapit from Sibu,” he added.
Bintulu MP Dato Sri Tiong King Sing and DUN Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar were among those present. — DayakDaily
