MUKAH: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg wants to see the whole state well-connected by a good road system.
For that, the state government will spend billions of ringgit to construct coastal routes and bridges to link up with the Pan Borneo Highway.
“Though it is costly, somewhat in the region of RM11 billion, I gave the go ahead, especially to construct a number of bridges across the Batang Lupar, Batang Lassa, Sadong, Sebuyau, Saribas and other rivers in the state,” he said.
He added that road connectivity for the state is vital, especially for the rural and semi-rural areas where there are vast areas of land yet to be developed.
Johari said this while speaking at the Ummah Development Seminar 2018 held at Dewan Suarah Mesra here on Wednesday afternoon.
Besides road connectivity, he explained, the people of Sarawak, be they in the rural or urban areas, would be well-connected to the digital world through improvement of Internet access.
“Our aspiration of embracing the new digital economy will not only become a reality but also successful.
“With good roads and internet connectivity, the pace of our development could be accelerated,” he said.
The Chief Minister was also determined to solve the never-ending woes of water problems once and for all throughout the state.
“Just imagine, even some areas near the state capital also face water problem. We have plenty of water resources to be exploited, especially dams.
“I want to solve this problem once and for all by developing the state water grid, though this could involve some RM7 billion,” he said.
Johari also touched on the agenda of getting back the state’s rights and create wealth through the creation of Development Bank of Sarawak (DBOS), Petros, Sarawak Pay and so forth.
On the Ummah programme, he said to equip the individual as well as the community with knowledge is encouraged in Islam, adding that Muslims had dominated various subjects for about 700 years, especially in Algebra, Astronomy and Mathematics.
“However, during the last 700 years of the 1,400 years of the existence of Islam, those subjects were no longer dominated by the Muslim world but shifted to the Western World,” he said, adding that the effort of transforming Mukah into a Smart City should be realized in the near future.
At the function, Johari and his wife, Datin Patinggi Dato Hajah Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Haji Bujang, handed over donations to a surau and also educational incentives to recipients from the area.
Also present were Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development, Dato Sri Hajah Fatimah Abdullah, Assistant Minister of Rural Electricity, Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Sarawak Islamic Council (SIC) Chairman, Datu Haji Misnu Haji Taha, State Mufti, Sahibus Samahah Datu Haji Kipli Haji Yassin, Sarawak Islamic Department Acting Director, Haji Khalidi Haji Ibrahim, Mukah Division Resident, Awang Johari Awang Mustapha, Tellian State Assemblyman, Yussibnosh Balo, Balingian State Assemblyman, Abdul Yakub Haji Arbi and Jemoreng State Assemblyman, Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya.
