Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong
KUCHING: Hulu Rajang MP Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong wants the construction of Belaga-Ng Merit Road to be expedited to prevent more tragic accidents from happening along the Rajang River.
He wants the 153-km road which is to be constructed under the ‘Jiwa Murni’ programme to be given top priority and there should be no delay in getting the project started.
“The road is scheduled to be kicked off in January next year. And I hope there would not be any delay in the project. The project should be started as soon as possible,” Ugak told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Ugak was responding to a tragic boat accident on Tuesday evening at Long Buyun in which a longboat capsized and one passenger died, three were still missing while five managed to swim to the shore.
“Year after year during festive seasons either during Gawai or Christmas, unfortunate incidents like this happened.
“While the memory of May 2013 express boat accident which took many lives is still vivid, now I have to witness children losing their lives again,” said Ugak.
Ugak said the place where the accident happened was only 50 metres away from the spot where two passengers drowned and two were still missing during a similar incident in May 2013.
“Once we have Belaga-Ng Merit Road, these longhouse folks will have the choice of using land transport. If there is basic infrastructure such as a connecting road, they will not be forced to use this treacherous part of the river to go back to their longhouses.”
He said though it had been raining in Kapit, water level in the river was still low.
“I hope by today (yesterday) or tomorrow, all the missing victims will be found,” said the first term federal lawmaker.