KUCHING: Mambong is set to become well connected to other regions, including Tebedu, Serian, and Bau, with the implementation of carefully planned road projects, including the newly approved Temong/Tepoi/Sadir/Annah Rais Road, which will cost RM200 mln.
Mambong incumbent Datuk Dr Jerip Susil expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg for announcing the approval of the Temong/Tepoi/Sadir/Annah Rais Road during the recent launch of the Serian Division Sarawak Government Administrative Centre.
“Actually, I have discussed the matter with Datuk Amar Michael Manyin Jawong (Tebedu incumbent), engineers from Public Works Department (JKR), as well as with the chief minister himself – why don’t we upgrade the road from Annah Rais all the way to Tepoi and Temong.
“This would shorten the distance of travel from Kuching all the way to Tebedu by even 45 minutes.”
In terms of utilities, Dr Jerip said some areas in his constituency still faced insufficient treated water supply.
“Therefore, we are looking into the next phase of water supply projects, which include Kampung Staang, Kampung Petag, and Kampung Bangau, then to include as well the reticulation of water to areas in Tebiya, which are Kampung Assum, Kampung Parang, Kampung Kiding, Kampung Sapit, Kampung Nusaraya, and so on. They too will have treated water supply.”
Dr Jerip said there was also the challenge of bringing treated water supply to areas, including Sibakar, Sadir, Simuti, and Sibuang. He said another package would be done for these areas.
Recalling the time when he was first elected as a people’s representative for Bengoh back in 2001, he said it was indeed a very challenging time as there were many inadequacies, including infrastructure and basic amenities such as water and electricity supply.
“From 2001, I did thorough planning to encompass infrastructure, water supply, and electricity supply. These are very basic things required for any basic development, other things could come later.”
He said he had improved and tar-sealed Jalan Puncak Borneo, Krokong Road, and some of the spur roads. Once these road improvements were implemented, he said efforts were focused on bringing in water and electricity supply.
“The water supply issue was very challenging. At that point in time, Bengoh Dam was under construction. There were many government, corporate, and other institutions around Puncak Borneo – including Rajah Charles Brooke Memorial (RCBM) Hospital, Puncak Borneo Prison, clinker plant, and so on. These all demanded a lot of water supply.
“I took that as leverage for us to apply for reticulation of water supply.”
Following the re-delineation effort in 2016 which led to the formation of Mambong constituency and Dr Jerip as its elected representative, he said he had implemented waves of development, including socioeconomic development.
For instance, he said he had plans to develop Mambong as a coffee belt, encouraging the people to utilise their land for sustainable income by planting coffee as a cash crop.
“My area is also well endowed with beautiful waterfalls, Bengoh Dam, lakes, hills, valleys, and mountains. Now, during this pandemic, a lot of people enjoy visiting these places to experience the beauty of nature. More and more people are interested in adventure tourism.
“We are talking about caving and homestays in Git, waterfalls in in Sadir, Sibakar, and all these areas,” he said, explaining that these were part and parcel of increasing socioeconomic activities through tourism.
In this regard, he said he had allocated funds for infrastructure development at a number of waterfall sites and he also hoped that locals could capitalise on these tourism products.
“There is no harm to incur a fee for people to take care of visitors’ cars at these sites. People are doing that in Sadir; every weekend the car owners pay a fee and the villagers can receive about RM2,000 to RM3,000 each weekend for their Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK).
On top of that, there are guides to bring them to the waterfalls, so there is economic activity in Sadir.”
Dr Jerip said there was also emphasis placed on human capital development and on motivating the younger generation to study and work hard.
In addition, he prioritised spiritual development by encouraging the people to be spiritually attuned and to take good care of their respective houses of worship.
