KUCHING: Pelagus assemblyman Wilson Nyabong Ijang said Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun of Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) has lost touch or focus after not being involved in government administration for a long time.
He also said Entulu had failed to understand that the Second Trunk Road (STR) was to cater to those in the rural areas.
Nyabong was responding to Entulu’s statement in which he said the RM6 billion allocated for the STR project should be utilised for other rural development projects such as providing clean water, electricity, telephone services, internet connection, access roads and healthcare facilities.
“The STR project is divided into two sectors — one stretches from Sebuyau to Roban via Sarawak hinterland then joining Pan Borneo Highway. While the Sebuyau sector passes through Lingga, Sri Aman, Betong and joining Pan Borneo Highway.
“These stretches cover 142km and will create accessibility to rural lands,” Nyabong pointed out.
He said the STR would enable utilities such as electricity and water to be connected to the rural longhouses and settlements.
“The STR will complement Pan Borneo highway and the coastal road which hugs the coasts of Sarawak,” he stressed.
He pointed out that 60 per cent of Sarawak’s population resides in the coastal areas and would benefit from these infrastructures. Therefore, to stop the construction of the STR was irrelevant, incorrect and naive.
“No development can move forward without the networks of roads. A good example, look at Malaya, the area is about the size of Sarawak, is crisscrossed by two north-south highways, east-west highway and East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) and many subsidiary roads connecting to various towns and settlements in Malaya. Are these roads irrelevant?
“We are now asking why Malaya is so much developed than us. Yet when plans are proposed to build these important infrastructures, our politicians question the wisdom of such proposals?” he commented.
Nyabong suggested that PSB and those who oppose Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government, not to oppose what is good for Sarawak just for the sake of opposing.
“If you are running out of ideas or things to say just keep quiet please,” he quipped.
