MIRI, Sept 27: The federal government has allocated RM25 million to build a wave breaker at the Kuala Batu 1 fishing village here, announced Minister of Water, Land and Natural Resources Dr Xavier Jayakumar today.
He spent about 30 minutes at the village this afternoon after opening the 12th Heart of Borneo trilateral meeting.
“Construction work (on the wave breaker) is expected to commence next year, after we open the tender,” he told reporters, adding that it would take 18 months to complete.
“We understand the villagers’ hardship, what with the sea encroaching into their land.”
The 200 odd families in Kuala Batu 1 village, which is located roughly 20km from Miri City, are involved in the fishing industry.
On another matter, Dr Xavier, who is also Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president, said he would be defending his post in the party polls.
Asked about the scuffles that happened in Penang and Kedah during the party polls recently, he replied that the party had sacked two people who were involved in the incident.
“Don’t evoke any emotional feelings during the whole election process. Please behave yourself,” he advised party members, before adding that he was looking forward to the next Sarawak state election, which is due in 2021. — DayakDaily
