By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, June 23: The long awaited Sibu-Kapit road will finally be completed by the end of August, in time for a meaningful Malaysia Day celebration on September 16, revealed Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing.
According to him, if it was not for the three-month Movement Control Order (MCO) triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic, the estimated 10km-long ‘missing link’ from Ng Ngungun in Kanowit to Temalat in Song would have been completed by July.
“If not for the Covid-19 pandemic it would have been completed by July. So now, the construction is scheduled to finish by August, 2020. By that time, Sibu will finally be connected with Kapit with a tar-sealed road,” Masing told DayakDaily when contacted today.
He stressed that local residents, especially those from Kapit like himself, have been so eager to see the completion of the road which would be a dream come true.
“Lest the people think that the government is not serious in completing the Kapit road, let me assure the people in Kanowit, Song and Kapit that I’m as excited as everyone else for the road to be completed so that I too can drive all the way to my longhouse in Kapit,” said Masing who is Baleh assemblyman.
On a related issue, Masing who is also Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development pointed out that the planned Pan Borneo Highway will pass through Brunei to “keep the Asean spirit” alive.
“The alignment of the Pan Borneo (highway) passing through Brunei has been decided. So we can’t change it as it is part of our Asean understanding to keep the Asean spirit among member countries,” he said.
However, the Sarawak government is keen to link both Limbang and Lawas to Mulu and Miri in the near future when funds are available.
“It is part of our state government’s plan to provide connectivity to all major towns and settlements in Sarawak. So too, we will build the road to connect the northern region, namely Limbang and Lawas, in the near future once we have the means,” he said. — DayakDaily
