Dr Hazland hopes for good connectivity in Demak Laut constituency

KUCHING: Connectivity is the biggest challenge for Demak Laut assemblyman Dr Hazland Abang Hipni to serve six villages in Tanjung Embang zone, namely Kampung Beradek, Kampung Semilang, Kampung Tiang Api, Kampung Tanju, Kampung Beradek Cina and Kampung Sg. Pinang as they are only reachable by boats.

However, he hoped that these six villages could be connected by road in the next three years. These villages have a population of about 2,000 people, consisting of mostly Malays including a number of Chinese families.

“The road costing RM45 million has just been approved by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development and hopefully it can be completed in the next three years so that their land of some 350,000 acres could be developed for agriculture,” Dr Hazland told The Borneo Post recently.

He said, besides the road, there are at least four bridges that need to be constructed to provide seamless road transport to the area.

According to him, each of the bridge could cost RM100 million or more depending on the size.

“I have highlighted this issue in the State Legislative Assembly ( DUN) for the last six years and ample times before I was their elected representative. So, we hope that the federal government would provide the necessary funding so that these infrastructures could be implemented,” he said.

Dr Hazland pointed out that since the villagers have vast tracts of land, it should be justifiable enough for the government to provide the necessary funding as it would provide the people the opportunity to produce crops such as oil palm, coconut and paddy.

Currently, there is one school that serves the six villages which are located closely together.

“My vision for Demak Laut is for the constituency to become a modern fishing and agro-based industry, eco-tourism industry as well as light and electronic industry as in Demak Jaya and Samajaya industrial areas,” he pointed out.

Besides the six villages, the other village that need road connectivity is Kpg Bako. But the road and the bridge leading to the village are expected to be completed by next year. Both the road and the bridge cost about RM60 million.

Meanwhile, over the weekend, 50 JKKK members from Kpg Beradek visited Serikin in Bau and thereafter they spent the night at a hotel in Kuching.

Dr Hazland (seated centre) with JKKK members of Kpg Bedadek in a group photo in a hotel in Kuching over the weekend.

Latiffah (tenth left), Naroden (centre) and Salmah (tenth right) posing with the delegation of RTM retired staff for a photocall.