By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Oct 17: A sum of RM2.46 million has been approved by the State Public Works Department to repair the section of road near Kampung Karu Penrissen, which has been affected by landslide.
Mambong assemblyman Datuk Dr Jerip Susil said work on the project has actually started in July but currently the contractor was sourcing for the right piling materials which were not available in the market as most of them have been taken up by the mega Pan Borneo Highway project.
“But I have been assured by the contractor that it will be completed on schedule, which is eight months from the date of commencement of works in July, meaning it is scheduled for completion by April 2019.
“And I’m also monitoring the project every day as I’m also as eager as any other road user for it to be completed, more so because the affected road is in my village,” Dr Jerip told DayakDaily.
He stressed that the contactor was sourcing for 200cm-diameter piling material, but since they have been taken by the Pan Borneo Highway project, the contractor will source for smaller ones of 150cm-diameter each.
“But for that, they will get more to strengthen the roadside foundation,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, on politics, Dr Jerip who is also Assistant Minister of Transportation believed that Sarawakians will still prefer local-based parties, such as Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and GPS-friendly United Peoples’ Party (UPP), in the coming state election scheduled to be held by 2021.
“State-based political parties like GPS and its ally UPP will ensure that our rights will be protected under MA63 (Malaysia Agreement 1963). On top of that, under Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, development of the rural areas will continue as we have the means to do so.
“As you know, each elected YB has been allocated RM5 million per year to develop their ‘kawasan’. On top of that, each MP from GPS has also be allocated RM5 mil for development purposes,” he said.
Dr Jerip also said that the GPS state government will ensure that the interests of all Sarawakians will be protected unlike Malaya-based parties.
“Who else can look after our rights but our own local-based parties? We cannot depend on outsiders to look after our interests,” he said, without elaborating further. — DayakDaily
