Expedite construction of Tutoh bridge with Budget 2022
MIRI: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Baram has called on the state government to expedite the construction of a key bridge across Sungai Tutoh either with state or federal funds or by roping in Petronas, says its chairman Roland Engan.
Petronas is the owner of the Sabah-Sarawak Gas Pipeline project that passes through Baram as part of its CSR and pipeline maintenance operation and tasks infrastructure in Baram.
The bridge was swept away by flood in May this year, cutting the only road link between Telang Usan and Mulu constituencies, which was also a lifeline for those living in Limbang and Lawas after Brunei closed its borders during the Covid-19 travel restrictions in 2020.
Roland, who is also a PKR Sarawak leadership council member, said the substantial state Budget for rural development next year could be tapped to restore this muchneeded bridge in Ulu Tutoh after the previous bridge built by a logging company was destroyed in the flood.
“Alternatively, the government can instruct Petronas to undertake the bridge construction and maintain it since their gas pipeline passes through the area,” he said.
He said the two elected representatives (of Telang usan and Mulu) had pushed for the bridge to be rebuilt but there has been no such plan specified for rural infrastructure development under the second thrust of Budget 2022 announced recently.
Roland also said the budget did not specify the amount of funds allocated for the survey of NCR land, particularly under Section 18 of the Land Code nor any mention of Baram Peace Park agreed by International Tropical Timber Organisation ( ITTO) for conservation.
Roland suggested that Baram, together with Belaga, to be elevated to division status to accelerate infrastructure development and establishment of government administration hubs to serve the rural people better.
PKR potential candidate for Telang Usan, Philip Jau, in highlighting the plight of many rural applicants of identity card and citizenship, called upon Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin to resolve the issue in his first 100 days under the new prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He said this issue affecting Penans, Kenyahs and other communities in Baram and other parts of the state could be resolved with the political will, and must be included under his KPI report.
“It takes RM500 a trip for such individual to check the status or collect the documents in Miri and there are many pending cases of citizenship application yet to be decided by the panel,” he said.
Philip said some of the cases included odd family members being issued with green identity card while the rest blue MyKad denoting citizenship and children of Malaysian fathers who could go to school or enjoy access to medical care or other citizenship privileges due to lack of identify card.