The Borneo Post

Uggah agrees Bario airport runway be expanded

- By Jude Toyat reporters@theborneop­ost.com

MIRI: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas fully supports the proposal by State Legislativ­e Assembly deputy speaker Datuk Gerawat Gala recently for extension of the Bario airport runway to cater for bigger aircraft like ATR in view of the increasing traffic.

Uggah, who is also the chairman of the Highland Developmen­t Agency ( HDA), emphasised that the extension will not only boost tourism in the sub- district, but also help in enhancing the people’s economy.

“As the chairman of the Highland Developmen­t Agency, I support the applicatio­n of Datuk Gerawat Gala to upgrade the Bario airport runway as it is the key for us to improve on the connectivi­ty of this highland area with markets not only in Miri, but all over the world,” said the Minister of Modernisat­ion of Agricultur­e, Native Land and Regional Developmen­t when declaring open the 12th Pesta Nukenen in Bario recently.

Uggah said the proposal will be included in the agency’s mid-term review.

“Transporta­tion is a very important factor to connect us with the market because we have lots of potential products here, including the Bario rice which has reached its popularity not only in Malaysia but also in many countries,” he added.

Uggah said the expansion of the Bario airport is one of the ways the government wants to develop Bario, in line with the aim of

As the chairman of the Highland Developmen­t Agency, I support the applicatio­n of Datuk Gerawat Gala to upgrade the Bario airport runway as it is the key for us to improve on the connectivi­ty of this highland area with markets not only in Miri, but all over the world.

HDA to narrow the disparity in income between rural and urban communitie­s.

“It is vital to ensure that every citizen in the state will be able to enjoy the benefits of the state’s progress,” said Uggah.

HDA, as part of the Regional Corridor Developmen­t Authority (Recoda), will also work out several plans to ensure that their goal to narrow the disparity in income is achievable, said Uggah.

At the event, Uggah announced an allocation of RM70,000 to Rurum Kelabit Sarawak ( RKS) for their activities.

He also approved two applicatio­ns totalling RM400,000 to upgrade two churches in the sub- district.

After the opening ceremony, Ug ga hand several other dignitarie­s launched the Kelabit Community Museum where they also joined in the ‘ Megalith Cultures of the Kelabit Highlands Through Time and Space’ exhibition or the Tour of Teripun.

Minister of Utilities Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip; State Legislativ­e Assembly Deputy Speaker and Mulu assemblyma­n Datuk Gerawat Gala; Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring Assistant Minister Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali; Miri mayor Adam Yii; Recoda chief executive officer Tan Sri Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot; Deputy State Secretary Datuk Ose Murang; and Pesta Nukenen Bario organising chairperso­n Lilla Raja were present at the event.

Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Deputy Chief Minister

 ??  ?? Uggah (fifth right) with other distinguis­hed guests during a photo-call at the 12th Pesta Nukenen launching ceremony in Bario recently.
Uggah (fifth right) with other distinguis­hed guests during a photo-call at the 12th Pesta Nukenen launching ceremony in Bario recently.
 ??  ?? Uggah hitting a wooden plank to symbolical­ly launch the 12th Pesta Nukenen.
Uggah hitting a wooden plank to symbolical­ly launch the 12th Pesta Nukenen.

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