Nyuak backs PSB’s stand not to proceed with Second Trunk Road project
KUCHING: Parti Sarawak Bersatu ( PSB) Pelagus branch chairman Dato Kristoffer Nyuak has defended his party’s stand that the state government cancel the RM6 billion Second Trunk Road (STR) project.
Though PSB leaders including Tamin branch chairman Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun appreciated the construction of the STR, it should not be given priority, he stressed.
“Why? There are many rural areas still completely bereft of proper roads and other basic necessities. Using part of the RM6 billion to provide the much-needed hinterland basic necessities would be more impactful economically and socially,” he said in a press statement yesterday.
He then hit out at his rival Pelagus assemblyman Wilson Nyabong Ijang for dismissing Entulu’s call for the STR project to be cancelled.
“If YB Nyabong understands the meaning of priority he should be ashamed to label Datuk Entulu as lacking of ideas. In addition, of the so-called rural areas, rural coastal areas already have far better infrastructure relative to upriver areas.
“Therefore, the construction of a second trunk road is not only redundant to Pan Borneo Highway and the present coastal trunk road but is utterly misplaced,” Nyuak pointed out.
“Needless to say, the RM6 billion can be more wisely spent in other sectors such as agriculture and education. Why should YB Nyabong be concerned about the second trunk road? Not unless he has personal reasons or motivation for doing so.”
He said Nyabong was clearly not focused on his constituency of Pelagus, and instead is arguing on matters not directly affecting his constituents.
“If he wants to advocate building of roads, he should demand for roads in Pelagus, not other places. If he fails to focus on his constituents, he will fail his sacred duty and obligations as a
YB to his rakyat (constituents) in his constituency,” he added.
For many years, Pelagus constituents are hoping and waiting for new roads and infrastructure, as the existing ones are timber tracks which are in dilapidated state, he said.
Only recently, heavy machines are sighted in Sg Sut, most probably for road projects, which people in Sut deserve and waited for, for years, he added.
“As the old Malay saying goes ‘Anak di rumah, monyet di hutan disusukan’ (Children at home but yet monkeys in the jungle he feeds). Don’t build roads just for the sake of having more roads. Build roads so that the rakyat in that area can actually benefit.
“In Pelagus area, there are no roads, so it is better to utilise limited government funds to build roads in the Pelagus area, he said, adding that after 50 years of independence, they should be given the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of independence.
On May 16, Entulu issued a press statement to counter a comment made by Assistant Minister of Urban Development and Resources Datu Len Talif Salleh.
“Datuk Len, you think spending RM6 billion of our precious reserves is necessary for a second trunk road alongside the Pan Borneo Highway and the Coastal Road? We don’t.
“Do you and GPS think that second trunk road is more important than clean water, electricity, telephone and Internet access, proper road access and rural health care? We don’t.
“We assure you that PSB will channel the RM6 billion to improve the livelihood of our rural poor who have no clean water, no electricity, no telephone or Internet connection, no proper road access and inadequate health care. We give our pledge to Sarawak on that,” he added.
PSB considers it a disgrace that, after 60 years of unbroken rule by the same parties, there are people in Sarawak who must still fetch water from and bathe in a river, or use a genset for electricity, or risk their lives travelling on dangerous logging roads or by long boats on the river to get medical care, said Entulu, who is former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.
Earlier on, Len Talif described PSB president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh and party Youth chief Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa as ‘irresponsible’ with their statements claiming the proposed STR project ‘redundant’.