Abang Johari uses a blowpipe to launch the Mulu Service Centre. Gerawat is on his right. – Ukas photo
MIRI (Nov 25): Mulu incumbent Datuk Gerawat Gala will defend the seat for Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in the 12th state election Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg confirmed today.
“I will put Gerawat Gala as candidate for Mulu. With collaboration between Gerawat and (Baram MP) Anyi Ngau, I am confident we can develop Baram further in a more organised manner,” the GPS chairman said when launching the Mulu Service Centre.
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“It is not easy to develop Mulu, but we will open up the area in Baram – from Miri to Marudi and from Marudi to Long Terawan. From Long Terawan to Long Bemang; we cannot go further because it is a Unesco area, so we just make the road along the sides.”
Once the road is completed, he said it would only take about one hour and 40 minutes to drive to Long Terawan from Miri
“You can imagine driving your vehicles to Long Terawan without having to rely on weather like we normally do when taking flights. You can come here anytime you want,” he said.
“The cost for this road is very expensive, but let me work for the funding. We’ll get the funding when we are ready to build it. But I need the peoples’ mandate so that I can do it.”
Abang Johari explained that the election is necessary so that the people can decide who they want to manage their state.
He said GPS has given its best and, if given another five years, the coalition could realise the road project.
“Once the road is ready, Mulu will improve and the economy as well as the income here will also improve,” he pointed out.
On the Mulu Service Centre project, Abang Johari said it was promised by the federal government but as its implementation was slow, the project had to be taken over by the state.
“Mulu has no administrative centre, even though its status is now a district. So the state government just had to go on with the project using its own funding,” he said.
“Today we start with the service centre. Once everything else is done, we will make the road within five years. When everything is completed, the economy here will open and improve,” he said.
In his speech, Gerawat said the Mulu Service Centre will include the Mulu Sub-District Office, Rural Transformation Centre (RTC), a food court, a community hall, village shops, and a sports field, which would be constructed in stages.
“This project will bring huge changes to Mulu’s landscape and open up various economic opportunities for the locals.
“The project will be developed in phases by Borneo Development Corporation, a very experienced government agency that has a proven track record in other projects similar to Mulu Service Centre,” he added.
Among those present were Utilities Minister Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom and Deputy State Secretary Dato Sri Mohd Abu Bakar Marzuki.