By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Dec 10: The vision for Progressive Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate Friday Belk is to ensure that Krian returns back into the fold of mainstream development.
As Betong Resident for four years, Friday was confident that he could make that happen as he has an overview and full understanding of the government’s plan to develop the constituency.
“Saratok is one of the districts within Betong Division. In 2020, there was a Betong Division Development Masterplan consisting of projects and plans for the division including Saratok, to be implemented between 2021 to 2030.
“I knew all the development plans for Saratok. The development plans and their details are at my fingertips. I believe I can materialise them for Saratok,” Friday told DayakDaily when met at his service centre in Saratok today.
Friday, 62, said Krian’s future lies with its agricultural development as it falls into two major agricultural development belts of Sarawak.
The first being the Bukit Sadok Agriculture Belt which stretches from Julau, across Saratok to Betong and ends at Upper Skrang as well as the Food Basket of Sarawak belt, stretching from Bintangor to Kuala Rajang and later to Batang Lupar.
“For both agriculture belts, development plans are already in the pipeline,” said Friday.
He said the Sarawak government’s plans are comprehensive. The Short Take-Off and Landing port (STOLport) which is now being built at Spaoh is only 30 minutes away from Saratok.
Presently, Saratok is already known for its agricultural activities especially in small scale oil palm planting as well pepper and rubber production.
Saratok also boasts its clean and unpolluted rivers such as Sungai Krian and Sungai Awit which produce Udang Galah – huge local freshwater prawns, though only seasonally.
Citing Wong Kelansau, a waterfall at Lempa, Kabo, Friday said as Krian constituency still maintaining its pristine nature, ecotourism can be encouraged to increase its people’s earning.
Born and raised in Saratok before working in Betong (which is one hour away from Saratok), Friday has never truly left Saratok, a place he calls home.
“I would like to reunite Krian’s people politically so that there will be no more politicking where efforts will be focussed on development to bring Krian into mainstream development,” stressed Friday. — DayakDaily
