KUCHING, Dec 5: Sarawak wants the new Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural and Regional Development, Dato Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, to channel more funds to boost the development of rural roads in the State.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who is also Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development, said the Sarawak government also have some proposals on how to speed up the implementation of its rural projects.
“We have met the previous Minister of Rural and Regional Development, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.
“We need to brief him (Zahid) on the various issues Sarawak faces in implementing rural projects. We need more funds, and that is the bottom line,” he said before embarking on his monthly monitoring of road and bridge construction projects in the Kuching and Samarahan divisions here today.
On the same note, Uggah hopes for the Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR) to be accorded the status of a technical department.
According to him, this matter is an outstanding issue that will be brought up to the federal government.
“Another equally important issue is the maintenance of federal roads in the State. Again, we would like to reiterate that Sarawak still needs more roads to catch up with the rest of the country,” he added.
Meanwhile, in congratulating Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi for his appointment as Works Minister, Uggah said he was eager to work closely with him.
“We are very thankful that a Sarawakian is helming this very important ministry again.
“We expect to work with him in the same manner we had forged with the previous Minister, Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof, on the way to improve connectivity via more federal roads,” he said. — DayakDaily
