Not true Ngemah bypass, road projects delayed — Nanta
KANOWIT: Allegations by certain quarters that the government had purposely delayed the construction of Ngungun-Ngemah by-pass and Ngemah-Temalat Road have been rebuked.
Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Alexander Nanta said in fact the funding for the project, which is part of the 101km Kanowit/ Song/ Kapit Road, was already available.
“The project is divided into two phases namely Phase 1 for constructing the 9.6km TemalatNgemah Road and Phase 2 to build a 4.1km Ngungun-Ngemah by-pass.
“We have prepared the tender document for Phase 1 and negotiation with an identified contractor is expected to be concluded in June this year.
“For Phase 2, tender is expected to be called in September this year,” he told a press conference after the soft opening ceremony for Kanowit bridge here yesterday.
Nanta said the overall cost of the project was RM150 million, of which RM36 million additional funding was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak when he visited Nanga Ngungun on March 27 last year.
Earlier in his speech, Nanta explained that Ngungun-Ngemah by-pass and a new bridge crossing Sungai Ngemah were necessary after taking into consideration some factors.
“Initial plan of the Kanowit/ Song/ Kapit was to go through Nanga Ngungun Resettlement area.
“We are worried the road will pose safety issues to longhouse residents there if it is built according to the initial plan.
“The prime minister gave his consent to build the by-pass and new Sungai Ngemah bridge after he visited the resettlement last year,” he said.
On Kanowit bridge, Nanta said the construction of the bridge costing RM52 million commenced on Dec 29, 2014 and was scheduled to be fully completed on July 7 this year.
As the progress was ahead of schedule, he said it was opened much earlier to provide convenience to those residing in Majau, Poi, Ngemah as well as in Song in conjunction with the Gawai Dayak festival.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing was the guest- of-honour at the event.
Among those present were Kanowit MP Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang, Ngemah assemblyman Alexander Vincent, Machan assemblyman Allan Siden Gramong, Pelagus assemblyman Wilson Nyabong Ijang, Bukit Goram assemblyman Jefferson Jamit and former Machan assemblyman Datuk Gramong Juna.
We have prepared tender document for Phase 1 and negotiation with identified contractor is expected to be concluded in June this year. Datuk Alexander Nanta, Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development