Chuk Pai Ugon
Danny Abit
Bit Surang
BELAGA: The completion of the 38km Kpg Menjawah-Belaga Road will augur well for the people here who have been depending heavily on both river transport and logging road.
“Although the road is not perfect, we are very grateful that now we have a road to link us to the outside world,” said Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Belaga Youth chief Chuk Pai Ugon to The Borneo Post in Belaga recently.
He said before the completion of the road, they were at the mercy of the express boat which ply from Belaga to Kapit and Sibu only once a day.
“Before the completion of the road there is no way for us to bring our relatives in need of emergency treatment, outside Belaga Town,” he said.
Chuk said even though there was already an existing logging road leading to Belaga Town; it has not been reliable especially during rainy days.
“It is very risky to use, and we were reminded not to use it after 4pm even if the weather is fine,” added Chuk who is an engineer.
PRS Belaga Youth treasurer Dannis Abit hoped that the road could be improved in future as the current surface is uneven and very winding.
“The local people dubbed the road, a roller coaster. But nevertheless we are still appreciative of it. It is definitely better than nothing,” said Dannis.
PRS Youth information chief Bit Surang hoped that the federal government will continue with the ‘Jiwa Murni’ programme to complete the proposed 130-km Belaga-Kapit Road which has been strongly recommended by the local elected representatives namely Belaga assemblyman and Assistant Minister of Culture and Heritage Liwan Lagang and Hulu Rajang MP Wilson Ugak Kumbong during the recent visit by Deputy Minister of Defence Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri last Wednesday.
“Hulu Rajang has been a strong supporter of the BN government. So we hope that the basic necessities such as roads, treated water and electricity will be provided to the some 30, 000 people in the district which is as big as the whole state of Pahang,” said Bit.
If the proposed Belaga-Kapit Road were to materialise in the near future, it will benefit some 30,000 people of diverse ethnic backgrounds.
The Kpg Menjawah-Belaga Road was undertaken by the army’s royal regiment engineering corp under its ‘Jiwa Murni’ programme at the cost of RM64 mil. It was officially opened by Abdul Rahim last Wednesday.