KAPIT: The Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) here have appealed to the government to maintain the section of private road from Song to Ngungun, Kanowit especially during the coming up Gawai Dayak celebration.
This is for the convenience and safety of road users from outstation using that stretch of the road to return home for the festivity.
“We appeal to the State and Federal governments to maintain the stretch of road from Temalat, Song to Ngungun, Kanowit or precisely the private road during the Gawai season. We appeal to the relevant authority to station manpower and machinery like bulldozer to ensure the partial gravel and clay road is safe to drive. We would certainly be delighted if RELA or police could help to patrol the Jalan Kanowit-Kapit to ensure safety and security of the road users,” said the chairman Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA) Kapit Layang Ugek who is also the vice chairman of Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) Kapit to the press yesterday.
“In view of the forthcoming Gawai Dayak Celebration we expecte large number of Gawai celebrants and visitors throughout the state to travel by road to Kapit. Based on our studies, each year some fifteen thousand travellers from far and near return to their respective longhouses to unite with family members for the annual Gawai Dayak celebration,” said Layang.
Sharing the same view together was the chairman Persatuan Veteran ATM Cawangan Kapit Martin Bilun who is also the chairman JKKK Tatai Mas Raweng, Ulu Sungai Amang, Jalan Selirik here.
According to Martin, the feedback from road users revealed that the section of Jalan Kapit-Song covering a distance of 44 kilometres is fine. There is no problem and is expected to complete by end of July this year.
The main problem he said is from Song to Kanowit involving a journey through the logging road and the private road to Ngungun. Meanwhile the missing link is the 9.6 kilometres connecting Ngungun to Temalat and the Ngungun bypass that covers a distance of 5.1 kilometres which is undergoing construction. Here the contractors have just moved into the site. The contract period for the completion of the road projects is within 36 months.
The main challenge is the private road (Jalan Kayu Balak/Jalan Kelapa Sawit) covering a distance of some 22 kilometres which is dangerous because it is partially gravel and earth road. During the sunny day, when the ground is dry, it is alright but during the rainy day, it is very muddy, slippery and on top that the road is winding and with very steep gradient.
Jalan Kapit-Song-Kanowit covering a distance of 88 kilometres is the Federal Government project funded by Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKLW).
Kapit is the last frontier in the state and over the past sixty years, it is considered an island and is only accessible by boat taking three hours’ journey from Sibu.
