Entri says unfair to blame him for road woes, defends track record

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Datuk Sylvester Entri

MIRI: Former Marudi assemblyman and former assistant minister of public utilities Datuk Sylvester Entri says it is unfair to blame him for the condition of the Miri-Marudi road which is under repair and purported lack of development in the constituency.

Speaking at a press conference here Thursday, he referred to comments by Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil which was reported in The Borneo Post recently  on the poor state of Marudi road despite being allocated RM143.4 million by the government and the statement  by Progressive Democratic Party  Youth questioning his track record.

Entri said the initial RM60 million was approved by the prime minister in 2011 under the Jiwa Murni project after a field assessment trip by his political secretary Datuk Shahlan Ismail and top officials from the Prime Minister’s Department.

The RM77.4 million road upgrading project was approved by the state cabinet before the last state election and the project is on-going but the public have complained of the bone-jarring condition of this 44km-road.

“It was a Jiwa Murni project and he is questioning me, the Ministry of Defence andPublic Works Department when the top brass from the chief secretary to (federal minister) Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, (state minister) Dato Sri Michael Manyin and other leaders who have gone to inspect the project previously,” he said.

Entri asked why  Penguang  had failed to ask for more funds to top up the RM77.4 million to make it a better road, pointing out that it cost RM260 million to build the road  by PWD standard as stated by Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh in his reply during the DUN sitting previously.

“Don’t blame me as this is a government project and, as a good leader, he should look forward and not blame the past leader when he is under pressure from his constituents.  I have never blamed my predecessor or the past,” he said.

Entri said he had never been in control of the fund for the road as it was a federal government project.

He added what had been done or carried out during his tenure for rural infrastructures, where the foundation has been laid down, could not be overlooked.

“I admit there is more to be done as Marudi is a big rural constituency, and Penguang should continue it,” he said.

He said the development during his tenure including the Bukit Peninjau, Beluru and Lapok roads which are in good condition, the submission of RM23 million for Marudi waterfront development by local council earlier, approval of the RM5 million hawker stalls centre, Rural electrification and water supply programmes and others are testimony of what he done for the constituency.

He said RM66 million RES for Beluru-Lapok sector was approved and announced by him previously, but there is a need for a power sub-station to be built in Lapok to meet the needs of those in Uiu Teru while the delayed Tinjar water treatment plant was scheduled to be completed this year after overcoming site erosion problems.

“It is unfair to insinuate that I didn’t do anything in the last 15 to 20 years and I have to clarify,” he said.

Entri was elected uncontested as Marudi assemblyman in 1996 and served five terms until 2016 and has kept a low profile since he was dropped in the last state election.

Entri said he would be happy if his successor could secure even more funds than him for Marudi constituency as this would benefit the people.

The former assistant minister said he felt compelled to reply to the allegations as it questioned his integrity and credibility during his tenure as Marudi assemblyman.