State has sound financial, resource management
KAPIT: Sarawak has sound financial and resource management and this has helped the state to implement various development projects.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg pointed this out at a community dinner held at the Kapit Civic Centre on Sunday evening (Oct 4).
Abang Johari added that since he became chief minister, he had formed additional development agencies such as the Upper Rajang Development Agency (Urda), Highland Development Agency (HDA) and the Northern Region Development Agency (Urda) with a total initial fund of RM12 billion to accelerate the tempo of development in the three areas.
“For URDA, RM1.5 billion was allocated to show that the state government had the funds and it will be used for development within three years.
“I have more plans in store for the state to generate more income, but we must win the election first. If not, I don’t have the power to do it,” he said.
The chief minister said there were certain people who claimed that Sarawak would be bankrupt within three years and others who questioned him where the money for the projects came from.
“So, don’t worry because we can manage our resources properly. And thank God, we won the case against Petronas. It has paid us the state sales tax (SST) of RM3 billion.
“If we return to power after the election, another RM1.5 billion will be allocated to Urda to carry out development projects and these include the construction of the 73km Nanga Mujong-Baleh Road which is estimated to cost RM1.2 billion and Nanga Sepangil-Tunoh Road (RM600 million),” he said.
Abang Johari revealed that the construction of the Rumah Nyamok/Nanga Serau/Nanga Gaat/SMK Baleh/Sungai Kain Road would commence soon at a cost of RM380 million. The Nanga Mujong-Nanga Tiau and Tunoh Road, estimated to cost RM550 million, had also been approved under the 12th Malaysia Plan.
Abang Johari added the Batang Baleh Bridge, Sungai Mujong Bridge and Sungai Banyau Bridge had been completed at a total cost of RM123 million while the RM3.9 million Sungai Merirai Bridge at the cost of RM29 million was under construction.
“Last time, when I first visited Kapit with my father, I was 15 years old. We used a boat and it took us seven hours to reach Kapit. But now, with the completed Sibu-Kapit Road, it only takes one hour and 40 minutes,” he said.
The chief minister also hit back at certain quarters which alleged that Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing did not bring any development to the people in Kapit. He asked them to see for themselves the development that had been implemented.
“I am confident that Kapit will transform and you are no longer isolated from the rest but are part of the development that is taking place in Sarawak.
“Therefore, my politics is just to help the people for as long as I can do it. As a Muslim, when we help people, we get ‘pahala’ (merits) and that will help me when I die,” he said.
At the event, Abang Johari also presented appointment letters to 52 community leaders from Kapit.
