MIRI: Federal Works Minister Baru Bian disclosed that the ministry was studying the possibility of constructing a diversion road to connect Marudi and Bario without going through Brunei Darussalam. “We are looking at another alignment wherby we can avoid Brunei totally,” he said. Baru was responding to a question from a reporter who wanted to know whether the federal government would continue with its plan in connecting Marudi and Bario.
“I’ve brought up the matter (access road connecting Marudi to Bario directly without going through Brunei) during the recent Parliament sitting,” he said. He added, with (traffic) restriction at the border, changes in rules and regulations the government is looking at the option (possibility of having a diversion road).
“We also want to create connectivity for other parts of the Bario and Baram areas so as to open up positive developments such as eco-tourism industry,” he pointed out,” he said.
At the moment, travellers from Miri to Limbang, Lawas and the Ba’kelalan Highlands have to pass through Brunei. “They have to face a lot of Immigration and Customs procedures at various checkpoints,” he explained.
Baru was speaking during a press conference held at the Miri Marriot hotel after attending the Pfizer volunteer appreciation ceremony yesterday morning. He lauded and credited efforts made by volunteers of Pfizer Malaysia Health in extending their health mission to East Malaysia and educating the local community on the importance of health and wellness.
“This social corporate responsibility programme is an effective bridge in supplementing the efforts of the Ministry of Health in improving healthcare access to the rural residents,” he said. The Pfizer Malaysia Health mission comprised 10 employees and three doctors which spent four days engaging with the communities in Ba’kelalan.
The mission ended yesterday. Also present at the event yesterday were Mir i Member of Parliament, Dr Michael Teo and Pfizer Malaysia director for corporate Affairs, Health and Value, Azwar Kamarudin. Pfizer is a pharmaceutical corporation headquartered in New York and one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies.
