Tiong, who is also Bintulu MP, said he spoke out on this in the parliament on Monday, asking for an explanation from the department. 

He gave specific examples of such delays in projects in Bintulu and Kapit, saying he felt the heartache to see how the delays had dragged on at the expense of the people's sufferings. 

"I hope the officers up there will understand the hardship of the people; how the folks in the remote areas cut off by roads have to reach a hospital in a six-to-10-hour sampan ride and how they have seen their sick family members dying in the sampan just because they cannot reach help in time." 

He said the department's words were always very nice to hear in the parliament, but, when it came to ground works, some projects turned up to be a great regret. 

He said when the late prime minister Tun Abdul Razak went to Kapit in the early 70s, he had to take a helicopter ride. 

"When the next prime minister takes office, will he still have to take the same helicopter ride?" 

He called on the department not to play around with the lives of the rural folks. 

"They have the same right to better living In implementing these projects, the constituencies of the ministers must not enjoy the first-priority privileges." 

Tiong gave an example of the road project from Tatau to Serupai in Bintulu. 

"The project was mooted in 2002. It was supposed to be carried out in the Ninth Malaysia Plan in 2005." 

He said he felt excited then and had enquired about the project. "I was then told it was a 10-km stretch costing RM30 million. 

"But, today, all is silent. The villagers are waiting, they are still moving about in boats. God knows, what has happened?" 

He said he questioned the department on Monday whether they were sincere in helping the people. 

"The wet season is again coming. The villagers will still have to put up with the stormy weather. 

They know it is dangerous to travel in boats, but, they have no other alternative." 

Tiong considered the Tatau-Serupai project a sad case. "I only know in the parliament that it is still waiting for the nod from the officer in PWD." 

The BN backbenchers' club chairman felt there could be a better coordination between the Federal and the State Government to help the people in rural projects. 

"The Tenth Malaysia Plan is coming. How many projects under the Eighth Malaysia Plan are still awaiting to be implemented? How many more in the Ninth, and how many more will have to be dragged into the Tenth Malaysia Plan?" 

Tiong also cited the example of the proposed building of the Tandan road in Bintulu. 

"The first phase costing RM15 million has been approved. It is all silent again, and the rural folks are still sitting there waiting." 

In Kapit, he said, there had been talks of a major road linking Sibu. 

"The matter has been raised many times in the parliament. I hope all these talks will not be back to Square One again." 

He said although Kapit is a remote town, it had played an important role in the formation of Malaysia. 

He hoped this would not be another case of beautiful talk that ended up in the frustration of the people who are just waiting, waiting and waiting. 

"Don't cook up another excuse for the Sibu-Kapit Road. Build it in accordance with the wish of the people."