Uggah hitting a wooden plank to symbolically launch the 12th Pesta Nukenen.
MIRI: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas fully supports the proposal by State Legislative Assembly deputy speaker Datuk Gerawat Gala recently for extension of the Bario airport runway to cater for bigger aircraft like ATR in view of the increasing traffic.
Uggah, who is also the chairman of the Highland Development Agency (HDA), emphasised that the extension will not only boost tourism in the sub-district, but also help in enhancing the people’s economy.
“As the chairman of the Highland Development Agency, I support the application of Datuk Gerawat Gala to upgrade the Bario airport runway as it is the key for us to improve on the connectivity of this highland area with markets not only in Miri, but all over the world,” said the Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development when declaring open the 12th Pesta Nukenen in Bario recently.
Uggah said the proposal will be included in the agency’s mid-term review.
“Transportation is a very important factor to connect us with the market because we have lots of potential products here, including the Bario rice which has reached its popularity not only in Malaysia but also in many countries,” he added.
Uggah (fifth right) with other distinguished guests during a photo-call at the 12th Pesta Nukenen launching ceremony in Bario recently.
Uggah said the expansion of the Bario airport is one of the ways the government wants to develop Bario, in line with the aim of HDA to narrow the disparity in income between rural and urban communities.
“It is vital to ensure that every citizen in the state will be able to enjoy the benefits of the state’s progress,” said Uggah.
HDA, as part of the Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda), will also work out several plans to ensure that their goal to narrow the disparity in income is achievable, said Uggah.
At the event, Uggah announced an allocation of RM70,000 to Rurum Kelabit Sarawak (RKS) for their activities.
He also approved two applications totalling RM400,000 to upgrade two churches in the sub-district.
After the opening ceremony, Uggah and several other dignitaries launched the Kelabit Community Museum where they also joined in the ‘Megalith Cultures of the Kelabit Highlands Through Time and Space’ exhibition or the Tour of Teripun.
Minister of Utilities Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip; State Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker and Mulu assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala; Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring Assistant Minister Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali; Miri mayor Adam Yii; Recoda chief executive officer Tan Sri Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot; Deputy State Secretary Datuk Ose Murang; and Pesta Nukenen Bario organising chairperson Lilla Raja were present at the event.