Photo shows Lapok town, all lit up after a 30-year wait.
MIRI: The long-awaited bright lights have finally reached the rural town of Lapok in Tinjar, about a 90-minute drive from here.
Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil, who expressed his happiness during the lighting-up of the town last Friday, said this would pave the way for Tinjar and Baram folk to enjoy better facilities after such a long wait.
“Lapok town is finally lighted after 30 years,” he told The Borneo Post via a WhatsApp message yesterday.
Penguang had been instrumental in linking the town to the near-yet-far state power grid, which had made its way into the hinterlands of Baram over the past decade.
He said he had brought the matter to the attention of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, who then allocated a sum of RM1 million for the construction of a transformer station in Lapok.
“Initially, the shop owners of this rural town, about 118km from Miri city, were supposed to contribute towards the costs of connecting the power and for purchasing the transformer, but I wrote to the chief minister for help.
“The chief minister then approved RM1 million to light up Lapok town. The shop owners need not pay a single sen.”
The Marudi assemblyman added that in 2017, he decided to tackle the long-standing issue of Lapok town not being connected to the state power grid, despite the grid system already passing the town in early 2016.
A dialogue with the shopkeepers followed, where it was agreed that a 500kVA transformer be built to meet their needs, with the construction costs shared by him, Baram MP Anyie Ngau and the shopkeepers.
However, Penguang said with the allocation provided by Abang Johari, the plan was able to materialise quicker – meaning the townsfolk and the local populace could finally look forward to better and brighter days ahead.