Piasau rep disappointed question not answered

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ALAN Ling Sie Kiong (DAP-Piasau) was disappointed with Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communications Dato Sri Michael Manyin for refusing his request for a written reply to one of his questions during the Q&A session yesterday.

His question at No 21 on the list was: When will the government build the Miri-Limbang-Lawas road bypassing Brunei? It was not answered during the one-hour session due to lack of time.

Ling rose to request for a written reply but the request was refused on the ground that he should have made the request early.

Ling later told reporters that officers had already prepared answers to questions that were not verbally replied during the Q&A session and that the minister should have supplied the information for the benefit of the people.

“This is an issue that affects the people in northern Sarawak, particularly those in Miri, Limbang and Lawas. We just want to know when the government will construct a road bypassing Brunei linking the three places.

“The route now requires people to go through eight border checkpoints if they travel between Miri and Lawas and four border checkpoints if they travel between Miri and Limbang.

“Also, this is a road that only opens between 6am and 10pm, as the checkpoints are not operating for 24 hours. This is very inconvenient for the people, especially tourists and transporters.

“We just want the minister to answer how the government can reduce the inconvenience,” he said.

Ling also hoped that Manyin would give a reply to a related issue, which is the Asean Toll Bridge at Kuala Baram linking Sarawak and Brunei.

“Will the state government consider abolishing or reviewing the high toll rate of Asean Bridge?

“It is currently the most expensive toll bridge in the state at RM10 each way,” he said.