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By Karen Bong
KUCHING, June 3: A proposal has been made to construct a road across Batang Rajang on the northern riverbank to enhance the accessibility of communities residing in remote settlements in Kapit and alleviate traffic congestion on the main road.
Kapit MP Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi highlighted that this plan is necessary because residents face difficulties travelling to and from their remote settlements due to the lack of express boat services unless they own private boats.
“I strongly believe that if this new road can be implemented in the future, it would help ease the congestion on the main road to Kapit.
“I will thoroughly review the details of this proposal with the KKDW (Federal Ministry of Rural and Regional Development) and Ulu Rajang Development Agency (Urda),” he said when addressing the Kapit-Level Gawai Dayak open house held at the Kapit Civic Centre today.
Deputy Prime Minister, who is also KKDW Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, officiated the open house.
As the Federal Works Minister, Nanta stressed that the opening of the new road to Kapit, replacing the waterway, has significantly impacted the socio-economic landscape of the once isolated region.
“Economic activity is increasing, and the road is getting congested. I view this as a positive development, as it demonstrates the substantial spill-over effects of road infrastructure on the local population.
“Kapit has gone through various phases of transformation over the past few years. This journey has not been easy, considering the vastness of Kapit, which is equivalent to the size of the State of Pahang, as well as geographical challenges and the different needs and demands of the people in the rural people,” he said.
However, Nanta acknowledged that such accomplishments would not have been possible without close cooperation between the Sarawak and Federal governments.
“Nevertheless, there is still much more to be done to ensure the well-being of the people, particularly those residing in remote areas, and this is certainly in line with the aspiration of Malaysia Madani of the unity government,” he concluded.
Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Julaihi Narawi, Minister in the Premier’s Office Datuk John Sikie Tayai, Deputy Minister of Native Law and Customs Jefferson Jamit Unyat and Federal Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Rubiah Wang were among those present. — DayakDaily
