Nyabong (front, centre) leads the ‘ngiling bidai’ ceremony. He is joined by (front, from left) local community leader Temenggong Tan Kian Hoo, longhouse chieftain Emak Libau, Kapit District Officer Elvis Didit, political secretary to chief minister Nicholas Kudi Jantai, Bukit Mabong District Officer Douglas Pungga and Kapit Resident’s Office administrative officer Minggu Jampong.

KAPIT: The road that links Sut with this town facilitates the growth of the rural area, especially the household economy of the people there.

Pelagus assemblyman Wilson Nyabong Ijang, in saying this, also assured the residents there that the works on Jalan Antaroh, including tar-sealing, would be an ongoing project.

“It is an ongoing project, so is the 24-hour power supply project under the Rural Electricity Scheme (RES).

“I remember that last time, it took several hours to travel between Kapit and Sut by river but now, only it is only about 50 minutes on board a four-wheel drive vehicle. I also can see that the owners of land on both sides of the road have utilised them for agriculture – every day, they can be seen at the Terasang Market to sell their produce,” he said at ‘Sarawak Celebrates — Ngiling Bidai 2017’ at Rumah Emak Lebau in Sungau Antaroh, Sut in Baleh recently.

The gathering, jointly hosted by Kapit District Office and the longhouse security and development committee (JKKK), was part of the ‘Sarawak Celebrates’ – a statewide programme slated for four major festive occasions — Chinese New Year, Gawai Dayak, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Christmas.

Adding on, Nyabong also noted that the trading centre at the junction between Jalan Antaroh and the logging road in Sut was very active.

The centre, which could accommodate up to 20 local traders, was completed late last year and was built using his Minor Rural Project (MRP) fund.

“Now the centre is a vibrant trading site, especially for those looking for jungle produce. During the last fruit season, those from Kapit drove all the way here from town to buy vegetables and fruits, especially durians,” he said.

Moreover, Nyabong said as an elected people’s representative, it was his responsibility and priority to focus on providing decent infrastructure to his constituency, which covers many rural villages and longhouses. In this regard, he said the people must continue to support the present ruling government.

“We can’t run away from the government, in that it provides all services especially assistance to the needy covering healthcare, social-welfare schemes, affordable housing, the 1Azam project for the farmers, MRP and other aid,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nyabong said the Barisan Nasional (BN) Pelagus Service Centre is collecting the data of all those in dire need of government assistance.

On this, he pledged that he would do his best in assisting them apply for various assistance schemes.

Later at the function, Nyabong announced RM5,000 under his MRP grant for the Rumah Emak Lebau Women’s Bureau.