LUNDU: Motorists will finally be able to commute on dual carriageways from Sematan to Miri by 2020 if everything goes according to plan, said Infrastructure Development and Communications Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin yesterday.
He explained that the plan under the Pan Borneo Highway project involved breaking it up into packages so that it could be completed within shorter period. The upgrading of the trunk road should start next year.
“This is the planning by the federal government to build the dual carriageways all the way from Sematan to Miri. That is Phase I, and supposed to be completed by 2020,” he told thesundaypost after opening the local Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA)’s triennial general meeting at its office near here.
He was earlier asked to elaborate on his speech during the function where he spoke briefly on the Pan Borneo Highway upgrading as he encouraged the people to make good use of the better infrastructure and facilities coming to their areas.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, when tabling the Budget 2015 on Oct 10, said the government would continue building the 1,6663km Pan Borneo Highway comprising 936km in Sarawak and 727km in Sabah, at a cost of RM27 billion.
The project had long been anticipated by the people of these East Malaysian states who have longed for better and safer road network.
In his speech, Manyin who is also DBNA chief advisor, said the way forward for the Bidayuh community would be through education and skills training. As such, he advised Bidayuh parents to prioritise their children’s education so that they could turn out to be high climbers in the public and corporate sector and earn well paying jobs befitting their qualification.
“The public perception is that we are rich with land, but in reality the land is small in acreage and fragmented. This makes it difficult to go for commercial development. What has made us able to move forward is through education,” he said.
He also spoke with pride about DBNA, which will turn 60 next year, because the association had been able to unite the Bidayuhs despite coming from different dialect groups. Also present were Opar assemblyman Ranum Mina and DBNA president Datu Ik Pahon Joyik.
In his speech, Ik Pahon said DBNA’s activities in conjunction with its 60th anniversary next year would include a Council of Elders workshop as well as programmes for youths and budding entrepreneurs.
Meanwhile, DBNA Lundu chairman Suimi Kinseng announced plans by the branch to build an indoor hall near its office.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/11/23/sematan-miri-dual-carriageways-commutable-by-2020-manyin/#ixzz3JqjbaNHK
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