SRI AMAN, May 3: The 10km Bukit Balau-Banting road which costs RM56 million will be completed within two years.
Barisan Nasional-Parti Rakyat Sarawak (BN-PRS) Sri Aman candidate Datuk Masir Kujat said the road which was launched yesterday morning once completed will benefit residents of 28 longhouses in the Banting area which is at the moment inaccessible by road.
Infrastructure Development and Transportation Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing officiated at the project yesterday morning.
Also present were Youth and Sports Assistant Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Bukit Begunan assemblyman Datuk Mong Dagang and Deputy State Secretary Datu Jaul Sameon.
On the related issue of defending the Sri Aman seat for BN, Masir said he was confident in retaining the seat because for the last 10 years, he has never failed to bring in projects which he promised the constituents.
“PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) and DAP (Democratic Action Party) joined efforts to take over the constituency in the last general election, but they failed. This time, I don’t think they will be successful,” Masir told the DayakDaily yesterday.
He said for the last 10 years, he had tried to bring in as much development as he could and he would continue to do so if he were to be elected again.
“All I hope is to develop my area, that is all. I have no other grand vision for my people except to bring in as much development as I can.
“There are still areas lacking roads, water and electricity and I hope to fulfil these basic needs,” he said.
Masir, who is caretaker Home Affairs Deputy Minister said sometime it took more time to bring development to the rural area due to local complications.
“For example, there was one RM1 million electricity project where everything was in place for the installation of electricity.
“Then at the last minute, the land owners of the land refused to let the electricity poles to be set up on their land despite the government’s willingness to compensate for the use of the land.
“Because of that, the project was withdrawn and the funds were moved to another area for development,” he said.
Masir has since 2008 held the Sri Aman seat for BN. He won the seat by garnering 9,700 votes while his opponent, independent Cobbold John Lusoi, who is Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru president polled only 5,448 votes.
In 2013, Masir polled 12,168 votes against PKR’s Nicholas Mujah Ason who garnered 5,618 votes.
In this 14th General Election, Masir is again facing both Cobbold John who is PBDSB’s sole election candidate and Nicholas Mujah. — DayakDaily
