S’wak ministry, JKR to ‘turun padang’ from Miri to Bario to check on projects’ progress

Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Aug 16: The Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development Sarawak (MIPD) and Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR) will conduct a ‘turun padang’ (going down to the ground) visit from Miri to Bario to check on the progress of development projects implemented.

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who is also the MIPD minister, said this is to ensure the projects are completed on time and to prevent any from becoming ‘sick’.

According to him, in the previous week, they conducted a five-day trip starting from Miri to the Bintulu, Mukah, Kapit, Sibu, and Sarikei divisions, covering about 80 per cent of the areas.

“The trip was beneficial for future plannings to further upgrade, especially infrastructural facilities in rural areas,” he said in a press statement today.

“This is about linking longhouses and villages still without roads and bridges (minor or major).

“It is also about upgrading and maintaining abandoned or inactive logging roads which the people are still using to move around,” he added.

He also said that during the previous trip, they also conducted briefings and dialogues with the respective elected representatives who had voiced out their expectations, problems and the assistance needed.

“In particular, we had wanted to know from them about their plans to enhance road connectivity in their areas, including where new roads and bridges would be needed,” he said. — DayakDaily