Masing mulls road linking three HEP projects to Balleh

KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing is mulling the construction of a road from Balleh to link the three hydro- electric power ( HEP) projects near the Sarawak-Indonesia border.

The road, costing about RM2 billion,was deemed crucial to protect what he called the ‘state assets’.

“As the minister-in- charge of transportation, I have to make a proposal for the construction of the road. Whether the government agrees or disagrees is a different matter...but I see the construction of the road as very important because at the moment we cannot deploy our security personnel to protect the three dams...no police, no soldiers there.

“And if the dams are bombed we are done,” Masing, who is Minister of Infrastructure Development and Transportation, told reporters at the State Legislative Assembly lobby yesterday.

He said he had high hopes that the project, which he termed as an interior highway, would be implemented under the 12th Malaysian Plan (12MP). He said the road would help to open the interior areas in Ulu Sungai Layar, Pakan, Julau, Kanowit, Song and Kapit.

Masing also said he would ask the army if the construction of the road could be carried out under their ‘jiwa murni’ programme.

On the second trunk road, Masing said he would first look for the budget, adding he was confident that it would get approval from the state government.

“We need more than one trunk road ( besides the Pan Borneo Highway)..we have the money, so why not use it to build infrastructure for the people.

“They (the people) have returned Team Adenan to power, and it is now ‘pay back time’ by building infrastructure,” he added.

According to him, the second trunk road would be a state-funded project, unlike the Pan Borneo Highway which was funded by the federal government.