LIMBANG: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said today that Sarawak will proceed to develop the coastal road infrastructure from Miri to coastal regions of Limbang and Lawas districts.

Abang Johari said this would be undertaken under Northern Region Development Agency’s (NRDA) infrastructure development plan, linking the road from Brunei all the way to the second bridge across Limbang River and the coastal region of Lawas.

“It does no matter that others may not want (to build it) but we will build this coastal road linkage, passing through Brunei,” he said at the launch of GPS Zon 15B here today.

He said more funds will be allocated to NRDA under the 12th Malaysia Plan if GPS remains in power then.

NRDA has been allocated RM1.5 billion to be spent over two years by the state government to spearhead the acceleration of development in Limbang and Lawas districts and a master plan has been drawn up to flesh out the enabling infrastructures, amenities and services required.

Abang Johari had appointed Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan Awang Tengah, who is also, Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurs and Minister of Urban Development and Second Urban Development and Resources as NRDA chairman in 2018.

Abang Johari said part of the government initiatives in boosting rural transformation in Limbang and Lawas districts is in line with the proposed economic cooperation between Sarawak and Brunei where Awang Tengah is the joint committee chairman.

He assured that the request by Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Native land and Regional Development Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail for a Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine Complex (CIQ) to be built at Pendam-Lumapas will be discussed when in the coming Malaysia-Brunei meeting.

He pointed out that the the slew of development in Limbang and Lawas which covered roads, bridges, esplanade and other government projects are undertaken to meet the needs and aspirations of the local people.

“Only GPS government and its leaders know intimately and appreciate the nuances and peculiarities of Sarawak like the seamless celebrations of each other festivities such as Chinese New Year, Gawai and Raya where her people live in peace and harmony.

The chief minister said it is imperative that the prevailing political stability and peace which has attracted foreign investments, spurred steady economic growth of five to six per cent growth of the gross domestic product (GDP) and delivery of election pledges by GPS government is supported by Sarawakians in the next state election.

Meanwhile, Abdul Rahman said Limbang has benefited much from the Chief Minister‘s development programmes, including the RM180 million Limbang bridge, RM60 million esplanade, Limbang museum, with the quarter house where Abang Johari was born and Berawan water treatment costing RM 33 million and RM160 million road to Bukit Buda.

Abdul Rahman also took the opportunity to request for funds for Batu Danau to connect water supply to longhouses and settlements, rural power supply, tourism infrastructure in Bukit Buda and Limpaku Pinang access road.

Among those present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas Douglas, Awang Tengah, Minister of Public Utilities Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Family and Women and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, SUPP secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting Chew Yew, PDP secretary-general Datuk Nelson Balang Rining.