Machan Assemblyman Allan Siden Gramong wants the road in Ulu Machan to be favorably considered under the mid-term review of the current Malaysia Plan. He said in Ulu Machan there are six longhouses and one primary school. “In the case of the road to Ulu Machan, there is a need for a bridge to be built across Sungai Kanowit near Pekan Machan.
“It is important that rural constituency like Machan be provided with road connectivity as roads would open up vast tracks of land and generate economic activities. “Roads are relevant and essential for the movement of products and goods to and fro the rural communities.
“Even with E-Commerce and digital economy, goods and products will still have to be transported and delivered by certain mode of transport such as roads, railways, planes or ships. For rural areas, we request for roads,” he said.
Siden said this dur ing the debate on Supply Bill at the State Legislative Assembly Sitting yesterday. He therefore requested for the upgrading of the Lukut/Penyulau Road and Lipus Road. Certain sections of these roads, he said, are prone to regular flooding of up to three feet of water, especially during rainy season.
When flooding occur, it could sometimes last for a week and people in the Lukut/Penyulau and Lipus areas would be cut off totally, resulting in hardship. “Hence, I call on the relevant authority to look into in the matter and undertake the necessary work to raise the road level at certain sections which are susceptible to flooding,” he said. On water, Siden is requesting for clean water supply for Majau, Batu Luking, Nanga Mam and Lower Sungai Poi.
There are altogether 38 longhouses and four primary schools in Majau, Batu Luking, Nanga Mam and Lower Sungai Poi, and there is also a small Chinese settlement at Nanga Mam. “All these longhouses are connected by roads and reachable from Kanowit Town using the new Kanowit Bridge.
“By car, the neares t longhouse can be reached in about 10 minutes while the farthest in about 40 minutes from Kanowit Town.” “I have visited the longhouses and schools in these areas. It is convenient to go there but the problem is that they do not have treated water supply.
“I understand their predicament and I trust that the government will look into it. The problem will be made worse during the dry weather when there might not be a drop of water in their tank,” he said.
