Najib announces allocation for the completion of ‘missing link’ of project that will open the last major town inaccessible by road
Najib performs the ‘naku buah inyak’ (cutting the coconut) as (from right) Ugak, Abang Johari and Masing look on.
Najib joining hands with state and community leaders at the function.
(From right) Ugak, Abang Johari, Najib, Masing, Nanta and Uggah joining hands in a show of the state leaders’ support for the prime minister.
Najib joined by (from right) Ugak, Abang Johari, Masing and Nanta perform the ‘ngiling tikai’.
KAPIT: The Kapit/Song/Kanowit Road will be completed by 2017 with the announcement of an RM87 million allocation for the construction of the ‘missing link’ of 9.6 kilometres between Nanga Temalat in Song and Nanga Ngemah in Kanowit by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
He approved the fund when he officiated at the Gawai Ngiling Tikai ceremony to mark the closing of the Gawai Dayak celebration at 23-door Rumah Bengau at Nanga Sut here yesterday.
“These are missing links of 9.6km between Nanga Temalat in Song district and Nanga Ngemah in Kanowit district. The road will change Kapit when it is fully completed,” he said.
Najib said Kapit was a unique place as it was the only division headquarters in the state that was still inaccessible by road from other major towns.
“This is the place where people have cars but their cars cannot travel out of the town because there is no road,” he said.
He added that the government would spend RM700 million to complete the 101 kilometre-road that would link Kapit to Sibu through Kanowit.
At the same function, he announced another RM37 million to build a road from Sungai Banyau to Sungai Mujong.
The project would enable people in Baleh and Pelagus to have direct access to Kapit town.
Najib later also announced that a vocational training school would be built here.
He said the school would help local youths acquire the necessary skills to participate in heavy industries created as a spin-off of the three hydro electricity dams namely Bakun Hydro Dam, Murum Hydro Dam and Baleh Hydro Dam.
Also present at the function were Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg who represented the chief minister, Land Development Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing, Minister Of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah, Hulu Rajang MP Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong, Kapit MP Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi, Culture and Heritage Assistant Minister Liwan Lagang, Katibas assemblyman Datuk Ambrose Blikau and Tan Sri Datuk Amar Leonard Linggi Jugah.
At the function, which was attended by about 5000 people, Najib was accorded a traditional Iban welcome.