‘Almost all roads in upper Rajang, upper Baleh to be completed by 2030’

KUCHING: Almost al l road networks cur rent ly being planned for both upper Rajang and upper Baleh will be completed by 2030, revealed Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing.

He said the road network that wi l l open up areas in upper Rajang and upper Baleh is directly l inked with the mammoth RM9 billion Baleh HEP Dam, which he considered as a ‘game changer’ for the entire Kapit Division including Belaga District.

“I am hoping that before I retire from active politics, I will be able to drive all the way from here to my longhouse at Lumah Lugat, Sg Majau, Baleh,” Masing told The Borneo Post at his residence here yesterday.

Included in the RM9 billion to bui ld the Baleh HEP dam will be RM2 billion worth of road network that will link the Mujong Bridge to the proposed Baleh HEP Dam at Putai.

“Besides the 73 - ki lometre road from the Baleh Bridge to the proposed Baleh HEP Dam, there will be another road that will connect the Baleh HEP Dam Road to link it with Sg Tunoh.

“With the road connection, we expect Sg Tunoh to be a new administrative centre with a new township that will house various colleges specialising in agriculture, forestry and ecotourism.

“We also expect an army camp to be bui lt there to provide security for three mega HEP dams such as Bakun, Murum and Baleh with a combined power output of at least 4,500 MW,” he said, adding that the Baleh HEP Dam is expected to be completed by 2026.

Masing also revealed that the RM700 million funding to build the Baleh HEP Road was derived from the funds for a road project that will link it with the proposed Baram HEP Dam.

On the Belaga- Ng Merit Road, Masing who is also the Minister of Infrastructure Development and Transportation, said the 101- ki lomet re road wi l l be undertaken by the army under the ‘Jiwa Murni’ programme with a total cost of RM30 0 million.

“Af ter its complet ion, we will be bidding for extra funds to construct the Ng Merit- Ng Mujong Road with a distance of 50 kilometres.”

Meanwhile, Belaga assemblyman Liwan Lagang said the Ng Merit Road project is expected to be completed by May 2020.

Once completed, the road will be able to serve at least 30,000 people who live along the banks of the mighty Rajang River.