Kapit Hospital in dire need of exit road, says Jamit

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Jamit (centre), Kedup assemblyman Martin Ben (right) and Layar assemblyman Gerald Rentap Jabu departing the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex during the break of its sitting for lunch.

Jamit (centre), Kedup assemblyman Martin Ben (right) and Layar assemblyman Gerald Rentap Jabu departing the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex during the break of its sitting for lunch.

CONSTRUCT an exit road at Kapit Hospital to ensure a free traffic flow to and from the hospital.

This call came from Jefferson Jamit Unyat (BN-Bukit Goram), who said the present one-way traffic was making it very difficult to evacuate patients during an emergency.

“The turning point of the dead-end road is very narrow. Hence, there is an urgent need to construct an exit road from the back lane of Kapit Hospital through the valley that separates the hospital from SK Methodist, Kapit,” he said when debating the State Budget 2017 yesterday.

Jamit also appealed for funds to repair and upgrade dilapidated rural schools in his constituency.

“For many rural folk, quality education has and will continue to play a very significant role to assist their families to move out of the poverty circle.”

He was thus delighted that the budget had allocated RM21 million to upgrade 72 dilapidated rural schools next year.

“The people of Bukit Goram will be very thankful if many of their schools are among the selected 72. I am ready to help in identifying the schools to be repaired or upgraded.”

He added that Kapit ‘has great tourism potential with its rich flora and fauna, culture, adventure and nature’.

As such, he urged the government to set up a Sarawak Tourism Board office in Kapit to promote products such as homestay, powerboat racing, Baleh Kapit Raft Safari and Kapit Festival.

He believed Kapit would gradually emerge as a tourism attraction centre in the central region.

Jamit also said the majority of longhouses in his constituency had yet to receive 24-hour electricity supply.

“Greater effort needs to be done so that the longhouse community can be connected to the state grid to enable them to enjoy 24-hour electricity supply without interruption.”

He also called upon the government to provide clean and safe water to the longhouses which were already accessible by roads.

He also urged the government to set up Rejang Development Authority (Reda) for the development of several parliamentary constituencies namely Kanowit, Julau, Kapit and Hulu Rajang.

“The rationale to set up the authority to be centred at Kapit is due to the fact that there is an urgency and need for the government to expedite, accelerate and fast track development in the mid-upper Rajang region that includes Kanowit, Julau, and upper Rajang including Song, Kapit, Belaga and Bukit Mabong.”

He said the authority would serve as a catalyst to spur development in the area and to complement the efforts made by Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

“Reda’s establishment will also help to balance the physical infrastructure and amenities, economic and social development in mid and upper Rejang areas, and accelerate a competitive community to face the development challenges brought about by SCORE.”

He added that it could also speed up the development of plantations, rural economy and eco-tourism, besides creating employment opportunities and enhance economic development in the (Reda) area.