Thanks to Army, safe and smoother ride to Ba Kelalan this Christmas

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BA KELALAN: Lun Bawangs returning to Ba Kelalan Highlands this Christmas can look forward to a safer and smoother ride when work using soil stablisation technology on the road surface are completed.

SPOT CHECK: Shahlan and entourage checking one of the bridges under construction.

Prime mover Royal Engineering Regiment of the Malaysian Armed Forces, has targeted to complete soil stabilisation of the 75km Long Luping-Ba Kelalan Road before this Christmas if weather permits while tar-sealing is scheduled to be completed by January although delivery date is April next year.

The two-phase RM60 million project,  started last Aug 1, is the result of a collaboration between the Prime Minister’s Office, Armed Forces (under its Jiwa Murni programme), related government agencies and the local community.

According to First Staff Officer Lt Col Falulin Senan and project manager Major Khamis Salim, their men also worked at night to ensure that the road would be completed in time for Christmas.

They revealed this when giving a briefing to Datuk Shahlan Ismail, a political secretary to the Prime Minister, and his entourage at the site on Sunday.

The entourage flew from Miri to the project site at Lapukan between Long Luping and Ba kelalan and was impressed by the efforts made despite the huge challenges posed by the weather, terrain and logistics.

“We appreciate the efforts, sacrifices and cooperation of all those involved in this project and this would be a landmark and legacy of the engineering corps,” Shahlan said.

Shahlan later presented RM3,000 from the Prime Minister’s Rahah Foundation as an appreciation for the military personnel who had been working very hard to get the road ready as soon as possible.

The Lok Kawi Camp-based engineering corps had to overcome an uphill battle due to inclement weather and logistics limitations to bring in materials for the project and construction of 10 bridges.

The corps and its contractors also engaged locals who had been cooperative and supportive, for which Major Khamis was grateful.

“We are also asking them to pray for good weather as this is our biggest challenge apart from the soil conditions,” he said.