Ferry a thing of the past with completion of Long Lama bridge

LONG LAMA, Baram: Gone are the days when people in the rural areas of Long Lama in Baram and Miri rely heavily on the ferry to cross the Baram river, following the completion of the Long Lama bridge.

Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau said all this while, those residing in Long Lama town and settlements or longhouses deep in the interior of Apoh, Tutoh and other regions had to bear with waiting for the ferry and paying for the fare to cross the Baram river.

The completion of the 573metre double-lane bridge which was fully funded by the Sarawak government at a cost of RM67,109,453.37 has brought much relief to the people.

“The construction of Long Lama bridge is a promise fulfilled by the Sarawak government and former chief minister, the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem, who had approved the project and announced it during the State Legislative Assembly sitting in 2016.

“The late Tok Nan himself came all the way to Long Lama for the earth breaking. We, the people in Long Lama and Telang Usan and Ulu Baram in general were so delighted at that time.

“Therefore, on behalf of people in Telang Usan, I would like to propose to the Sarawak

The construction of Long Lama bridge is a promise fulfilled by the Sarawak government and former chief minister, the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem, who had approved the project and announced it during the State Legislative Assembly sitting in 2016. Dennis Ngau, Telang Usan assemblyman

government to name this bridge as Jambatan Tok Nan or Jambatan Adenan Satem as we are very grateful and touched by the late Tok Nan, and we would also like to commemorate his contribution as well as those of the Sarawak government before and of the day,” said Dennis in his officiating speech at the Long Lama bridge soft opening ceremony here yesterday.

With the completion of the bridge, more than 20,000 residents of Long Lama town, the Apo and Tutoh area are connected to Marudi and Miri City and other parts of Sarawak.

Dennis also hoped that with the completion of the bridge, the people would have renewed spirit in working harder to uplift their economic standing through agriculture like planting cash crops for sale.

“There are many opportunities we can explore in our area. We will develop the Long Lama rural growth centre and build a collection, processing and packaging centre to buy and process durians and ‘ubi kayu’. In addition, we will also look at some of the places to buy handicraft products from residents in the interior.

“Our future in Telang Usan will be brighter as long as we stay united and work together with me as your Wakil Rakyat and the ruling Sarawak government, and this is the promise of the Sarawak government to all of us,” he said.

Dennis disclosed that the grand opening of the Long Lama bridge is expected to be graced by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg sometime in June or at a date set by the chief minister himself.

More than 500 people attended the event. Among them were Telang Usan district officer Baru Tai, political secretaries to the chief minister Charles Balan Seling and Robert Ayu, JKR Northern Region manager Wisil Lichok, JKR Miri divisional engineer Chong Chi Fam, Marudi District Council chairman Edward Mendai, Kayan paramount chief Temenggong Elizabeth Deng, Penghulu Desmond Yap and Kapitan Yeo Kee Siang.