Federal government to construct alternative route connecting towns in northern Sarawak that would spare travellers immigration hassle

LAWAS: Works Minister Baru Bian reaffirmed that the federal government will construct the proposed alternative route from Miri to Limbang and Lawas through Long Lama, Marudi and Bario bypassing Brunei.

He said this was agreed upon by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad during the recent briefing with the Ministry of Works.

“The alternative road or the missing link route will be built from Miri through Long Lama, Marudi, Bario and directly to Limbang and Lawas without going through Brunei.

“The construction of this route will solve difficulties such as passports’ usage, the difficulties in transporting food items such as rice and other things by residents of Limbang, Lawas and Miri through Brunei,” he said on Friday when officiating at the ‘Lawas My Home’ project in conjunction with the Lun Bawang Youth Carnival at Lawas Town Square.

Baru Bian who is also Ba Kelalan assemblyman and Selangau MP, said the state government should look into the need to build and improve the village roads to longhouses and residents in the countryside.

“Sarawak already has the Pan Borneo road as well as the coastal road connecting the South to northern Sarawak.

“Thus it is very important for the state government to look at other aspects that are more important to develop rural Sarawak,” he said.

At the event, he called on all parties to ensure that Lawas is free from drug threats, especially Syabu which is very worrying.

He stressed that the authorities here need to act stringently to clear Lawas district from negative influences and threats from drugs as the youths – being the important asset of the country need to be guided and trained with various skills according to their potentials.

“This youth carnival should be continued as a platform to unearth youth talents to be developed to a higher level,” he said.

At the function, Baru announced a government grant of RM20,000 for PLBS Lawas Youth Branch.

Also present were chairman of the Sarawak Lun Bawang Association (PLBS) Petrus Lasong, chairman of Miri branch of PLBS Youth Andrew Labo and Lawas PLBS Youth chairman Josely Pengiran.