By Adrian Lim
LAWAS, Sept 28: The state government will construct direct pipelines from the Gelugus water plant to Kampung Punang in order to solve the water supplies problem in the village for the long-term.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the state government will also build high level water tanks dedicated to the Kampung Punang area, adding that the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) had repaired the water pipes which were faulty in the short-term.
He disclosed that the project which involved a cost of RM26 million is currently under the tender stage of its implementation.
“In Kampung Punang here, I know that the problem (water supplies) is a protracted problem.
“Not just at Kampung Punang, there are also such problems in Kampung Awa Tawar and many more places.
“Few months ago, the villagers of Kampung Punang has organised a demonstration. This is because JBALB did not engage with the villagers.
“Sometimes, there is water (supply), sometimes there is wind (angin). So the villagers were frustrated,” he said in his speech during the leaders-meet-the-people session at Kampung Punang Lama here today.
Awang Tengah added the state government will also continue to provide electricity supply and widen its coverage in the rural areas.
He said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has approved an allocation of RM2.3 billion to connect electricity supplies in the rural area including those in the Lawas district.
Awang Tengah who is International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development added the state government had planned to connect the electricity supplies in Limbang and Lawas to the main electricity supply grid known as state grid by 2023.
Awang Tengah who is Second Minister of Urban Development and Resources said the chief minister has also allocated more than RM350 million for development projects in Lawas.
He explained that many of the development projects were being carried out and will be implemented in the future.
Apart from that, Abang Tengah who is Bukit Sari assemblyman said the state government has taken over the construction of the second phase of the Pan Borneo Highway project from the federal government and rebranded it as the Northern Coastal Highway project.
He explained that the project was cancelled by the former Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.
He said the state government has conducted the value assessment lab for the Northern Coastal Highway project to facilitate its implementation.
Abang Tengah added the chief minister has also agreed to modify the alignment of the Sarawak-Sabah Link road connecting the rural areas which was mooted by the former PH government.
He said the modified alignment of the Sarawak-Sabah Link road will be integrated with the proposed Northern Coastal Highway project that links Limbang to Lawas.
Based on the new alignment, Awang Tengah said the distance will be shortened and the cost of construction will be lowered, adding that the new alignment will be able to provide accessibility to villages and longhouses in the rural areas.
Among those present at the event were Abang Johari and wife Datin Patinggi Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, Deputy Minister of Rural Development Datuk Henry Sum Agong, Deputy Transport Minister Hasbi Habibollah, Assistant Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, Assistant Minister of International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Naroden Majais and community leaders.—DayakDaily
