SIBU: The changes in the development landscape along Kanowit to Kapit are proof of the state government’s commitment in developing the rural areas.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the construction of access roads connecting Kapit town, in the middle of the interior of Sarawak, with Kanowit located downstream showed how committed the state government was in providing good accessibility to the people.
He said Kapit and Kanowit which previously were only accessible by water transport along the Rajang River would soon could be accessible by road when the Kapit-Song-Kanowit-Sibu road is complete.
“It was different back then when there were no land routes connecting to Sibu.
“But with the existence of modern and comfortable land route provides easier and better access for the residents to connect with the outside. And this is proof of our success to bring development to the interior area,” he said at the leader-with-people event held at Nanga Ngungun multipurpose hall in Kanowit on Sunday.
Abang Johari said the construction of bridges and roads in the central zone would provide better connectivity for people in Kanowit.
“We already completed construction work on the missing links and bypasses here in Kanowit.
“The project will provide better road connectivity for the people when the Nanga Mujong Bridge is completed. Then from Mujong, it will connect to Baleh, and from Baleh to Belaga — right up to Bintulu,” he said.
On the road link to Kapit, he said he would ask the authorities to come up with a schedule to facilitate road users as well as ensure that the road construction project would not be disrupted.
“We will organise the schedule where there are times, we need to close the road for construction work and certain times to allow users to pass. This needs to be arranged properly,” he said.
At the function, Abang Johari approved the construction of a new community hall for residents in Nanga Ngungun.
“If there is native land here, we can help survey the land and issue the land verification to the native owners.
“The NCR land survey initiative is one of the efforts in developing potential lands for agriculture, but we need to identify and survey the status of the lands,” he added
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar James Jemut Masing and Ngemah assemblyman Alexander Vincent.
