KUCHING, May 22: Supporting the Second Trunk Road (STR) is also benefiting Kapit folks as they can use the road to shorten their journey from Kapit to Kuching once it is completed in future, said Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Pelagus Youth chief Desmond Hellegers Achong in a statement today.
“One of the main objectives of STR or Pan Borneo (Highway) is to shorten the traveling time from the western to northern part of Sarawak, thus it is illogical for the route to be almost along the coastal. Areas like Kapit division is located far in the interior of Borneo, and the best solution is a tee-off or loop road from Kapit to connect to Pan Borneo,” he said.
He added that Pelagus Assemblyman Wilson Nyabong Ijang and other elected representatives from Kapit division not only focus on their constituencies but also looking at the overall development of Kapit Division and the whole State.
“The question of priority is not an issue here when all development projects for road, water, electricity and other infrastructure have already got their own allocation in terms of budget.
“YB Wilson supports the STR because he can see its benefits to the rural folks and the state as a whole. STR will shorten travelling time for people from northern Sarawak, including from Kapit, when they travel to Kuching,” he said.
He also stressed that the development in Pelagus constituency under Nyabong now has improved and more development projects were now in the pipeline.
“Road is the first important instrument and catalyst for other development to expand to the rural areas. The proposed rural development must not be solely based on the economic viability factors, as it is always justifiable if it is meant for the people of rural areas.
He was rebutting Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB)’s Datuk Kristoffer Nyuak who questioned why Nyabong and other PRS leaders support the STR.
“That is why Upper Rajang Development Agency (URDA) was mooted so as to expedite the development in the whole Kapit Division. There is an approved 117-km Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) road alignment under Regional Corridor of Development authority (Recoda) from Sangan, Anap, Merit to Ng Tulie Kapit.
“This road will give accessibility to Bintulu town, which is already under the Score planning,” he said.
It added that there will be a ferry service at Ng.Tulie which was already approved by the State Cabinet, including road connected to both sides of the ferry point, approximately with a distance of 1.6 km.
“The ferry service will help people from Ulu Pelagus and Merit to reach Kapit Town,” he explained. – DayakDaily
