Datuk Masir Kujat
SRI AMAN: Connecting Sri Aman with Betong will be part of a master plan to ensure that this town will not be cut off from the development planning as the Pan Borneo Highway will bypass the town.
Sri Aman MP Datuk Masir Kujat said a bridge across the Batang Lupar is urgently needed so that the journey from Sri Aman to Betong could be shortened.
Currently, the time taken to travel from Sri Aman to Betong takes at least an hour and a half. With the proposed shortcut, it would take probably just half an hour.
“The whole idea is to link Sri Aman and Betong so that this town will not be left isolated.
In the long run, we hope that Sri Aman will be connected to the coastal road, as this is part of the plan,” said Masir when contacted by The Borneo Post Adventure Team (BAT) 7 here yesterday.
He added that the master plan would also include the aggressive development of commercial agriculture such as oil plan plantation and rubber smallholding.
“We hope that with better connectivity in the next five years, Sri Aman will be thriving like any other towns in the State,” said Masir who is also Deputy Home Minister.
Meanwhile, Masir who is also Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) vice-president added that he is ready to face the upcoming 14th general election.
“In fact my president (Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing) will launch my election machinery cum Ngiling Tikai (Gawai Dayak closing ceremony) at my longhouse in Lachau on June 17,” he said.
When asked on the rumours that he might be replaced, Masir said he does not like to dwell on such issue as he preferred to leave it to his top party leadership to decide.
Rumours have been rife that PRS top leadership has wanted one of the six PRS seats should be allocated to one of its women leaders.
Besides Sri Aman, other PRS seats are Lubok Antu, Kanowit, Hulu Rajang, Julau and Selangau.