Jabu (centre), flanked by Rayong on his left and Nyalau on his right being greeted on his arrival at the Engkilili Festival closing ceremony on Sunday.
ENGKILILI: The state government has approved a budget of RM3.6 million for the construction of seven bridges along the Ulu Skrang road.
This was announced by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu during the closing of the Engkilili Festival at the Engkilili town centre on Sunday.
He said the allocation was one of the testimonies that the state Barisan Nasional (BN) government really cared for the rural people and that it understood their wants and needs.
As such, he called on the people of Engkilili to rally behind BN and support the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.
“Opposition parties will never understand or care for what folks living in rural areas want. Please continue to support the BN government if you want to enjoy more development in your area as BN really cares,” he added during his speech.
Jabu’s announcement was received with much jubilation from the villagers as it would bring an end to their predicament.
Construction of the RM38-million 50km gravel Ulu Skrang road started in 2012 but proper bridges were yet to be built along the road.
While motorists fear crossing the flooded rivers along the road when it rains heavily, villagers who depend on the rivers for transport most of the time find it difficult to manoeuvre their boats under the makeshift bridges built along the road due to their low clearance level.
Engkilili assemblyman Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa revealed that the bridges are located along Nanga Tebat up to the upriver reaches of Skrang river.
“I would like to thank the people living along the Ulu Skrang road for their faith in the state government by being patient. They understand that they are not neglected by the state government in terms of development,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lubok Antu MP Datuk William Nyalau Badak commented that more development would take place in his constituency should the people continue to have faith in the BN government.
Apart from the allocation for the bridges, Jabu also announced minor rural project (MRP) grant of RM200,000 for Engkilili state constituency during the same event, which he hoped would be distributed evenly by those responsible.