By Karen Bong
KUCHING, April 6: The Long Terawan community in Miri’s rural interior has requested the Sarawak government to upgrade a 31km-long logging road from the village to Long Bangan, Long Win and Long Atip to serve as the nearest connecting route to Long Lama while waiting for the main road to be completed in five years’ time.
In making this request today, Mulu assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala expressed hope the upgrading of the road can be implemented under the Highland Development Authority (HDA) to improve the connectivity between the four villages and Long Lama.
“We are thankful to the YAB (Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg) for approving the allocation of RM500,000 to repair and improve the road from the main junction through Long Bedian to Long Terawan of about 48km.
“That’s why many of the attendees today can come here by road, otherwise the road is not passable. We have urged Syarikat Samling to speed up the repair, or else we could not have come here,” he explained.
Gerawat, who is also the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Deputy Speaker, highlighted this during the launching of Sarawak Rural Broadband Network (MySRBN), an initiative by Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), in Long Terawan, Miri which was officially launched by Abang Johari today.
On local water supply issues, Gerawat disclosed that the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) has been tasked to identify the best method to improve the gravity feed system that supplies clean water to Kampung Long Terawan which is currently not functioning.
“JBALB has gone down to investigate and in its report has recommended that repairs will incur RM450,000.
“So we hope the Chief Minister will take this into consideration as the Water Plant Project to be implemented by HDA for Long Terawan will take up two years to complete and this project is still waiting to be tendered,” he added.
Noting the many major development projects to be implemented with the allocation of RM4.5 billion approved under HDA, Upper Rajang Development Agency (URDA) and Northern Region Development Agency (NRDA), Gerawat emphasised that people must understand that the implementation of all planned projects will take time and cannot be done instantly or in a year’s time as arduous processes are involved.
“Our Chief Minister is a leader who will fulfill his promises to the people of Sarawak.
“GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) government is people-centric and will always work hard for the interests and future of the people. (GPS is) Far different from the 22-month government infamous for cancelling projects and not fulfilling their promises to the people,” he said.
GPS, he continued, has a clear track record which was evidenced in their delivery of development to the people.
“Parties and groups who always criticise the government and GPS leaders in social media have no proven track records.
“They just want to seek attention and dream of becoming leaders. They are busy playing up issues just to influence the people to hate the government. They cannot resolve the issues they have raised because they have no authority even though their voice can be heard on social media,” he added.
Gerawat thus called on the minority Orang Ulu community not to be led astray by the critics’ negativity, but instead stick with the government so that they will have a voice and power so as to not be left behind in terms of development and progress, together with other communities in Sarawak.
Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Corporate Affairs and Sarawak Public Communications Unit) Abdullah Saidol were among those present. — DayakDaily
