KAPIT: The people of Baleh will soon be able to travel to the town area by road; making their lives more convenient.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing said this while officiating at an earth breaking ceremony for a proposed new 37-door longhouse, Rumah Tajai Sanggau, at Nanga Sebiro, Ulu Sungai Baleh over the weekend.
He explained that the ongoing road project from Jalan Nanga Mujong to Nanga Antawau is about a kilometre away from the longhouse.
“In the future, the people of Baleh will be able travel to town by road. To move closer to the road would be easier and more convenient for the people here. I talked to the Tuai Rumah Tajai and he agreed,” said Masing.
When asked about the 73km-long road development project which costs RM 1.2 billion, Masing told that the allocation was initially for the proposed Baram Dam’s road infrastructure.
“Since the people there in Baram didn’t want to build the dam, the fund was used to construct the road linking to the proposed Baleh Dam which is now under construction, which the people here agreed to.
“To build the Baleh Dam, there must be road construction. The RM1.2 billion allocation is to construct a road from Nanga Mujong to Antawau, Ulu Baleh link to the proposed Baleh Dam.
“Another RM600 million is for the proposed 37km-long road to link Tunoh to Baleh Road. Baleh road in now is various stages of construction and is scheduled to be completed by April 2021”, explained Masing.
He also advised land owners to take the initiative to develop their land to generate income.
“The government provides the infrastructure to the people. It is now up to them (land owners) to take advantage of road accessibility,” he said.
Also present at the function were Pelagus assemblyman Wilson Nyabong Ijang and political secretary to the chief minister Nicholas Kudi Jantai.
