Masing calls out Soon Koh on rural infrastructure development
KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing has taken Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh to task over his comments on the infrastructure development in Baleh and Tunoh.
“The Ng Mujong and Ng Sepanggil-Tunoh roads are currently under construction, hence the poor condition is a normal and necessary part of a situation,” said Masing, who is also the Minister of Infrastructure and Ports Development, in a statement yesterday.
On Wednesday, Wong had criticised the condition of the roads in Baleh where Masing is assemblyman, adding that infrastructure development in the rural areas was lacking.
The PSB president had claimed that he had driven from Kapit to Tunoh in Baleh last week, and though the distance was only about 83km, it took him almost four hours. He added that the road was treacherous.
Refuting the PSB president’s allegation that he had failed to bring infrastructure development to his constituency, Masing said nearly RM3 billion had been allocated for infrastructure development in Baleh comprising five road projects.
Masing said the 73km Nanga Mujong Road, which is the access road to the proposed Baleh Dam, at RM1.2 billion, and Nanga Sepanggil-Tunoh, the access road to Tunoh, at RM600 million, were under construction.
According to him, the construction of the Rumah Nyamok/Nanga Serau/Nanga Gaat/SMK Baleh/Sungai Kain road at RM380 million, to be carried out in two phases, will begin at the end of this year.
Masing said the road to Tunoh (Nanga Mujong/Nanga Tiau/ Tunoh) estimated at RM550 million had been approved for implementation under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).
“Batang Baleh bridge, Sungai Mujong bridge, and Sungai Banyau bridge have been completed at a cost of RM123 million. Meanwhile, the RM3.9 million Sungai Merirai bridge is under construction,” he added.
Pointing out that the facts “speak for themselves”, Masing said he had succeeded in bringing billions of ringgit in infrastructure development to Baleh, which is also a testimony to the earnest efforts of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government in developing rural areas.