*My Longhouses along Segan River and Silas River on October 23 2011

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In his visit to the residents today, Tiong, who is also the chairman of BN Backbenchers’ Club, was met with angry residents who poured out their dissatisfaction to him on the promise of the proposed 10-km stretch of road that was supposed to link Kuala Tatau and Serupai.

The residents said the promise had come from a state assemblyman who was also an assistant minister and a deputy federal minister many years back.

Among those who aired their dissatisfaction was community leader Pemanca Manyi, who questioned about the price of voting for rural development under the BN Government.

He recalled when the people were told in 2001 of the proposed road, they leapt with joy, thinking the infrastructure development was finally at their doorstep.

The residents have been relying on water transport to reach Tatau and Bintulu. 

The community leader said, “In 2008, when we were told a sum of RM75 million had been allocated for the road project, we leapt for joy again. This was reconfirmed by the state assemblyman cum assistant minister and the federal deputy minister that the project was preceding.

“We waited and waited. Ten years have passed; we are still going to Tatau and Bintulu by boat.”

The community leader said their fading hope on such a development had now turned into total desperation. 

He said when they saw the residents in the nearby areas taking to the newly built coastal road linking with the rest of Sarawak, they were dismayed.

“With the road link, their areas are booming economically – swiftlet ranches are mushrooming and farmers are taking the road route to bring their crops to town.

“What about us now? What have we done to deserve this unfair treatment?”

The same grouses have come from the chieftains of Bandar anak Simpang and Enpenit anak Janting during iong’s visit today

The longhouse chief of Rumah Bandar confirmed of the promise of a BN candidate during an election, saying the community leaders were once summoned to a meeting, informing that the allocation had come, and if the candidate won, the road project would commence immediately.

He said to convince them, they were then shown a document about the approved project. 

The Bintulu MP listened to their dissatisfactions with patience, and at the end of their dialogue, Tiong apologised on behalf of the Barisan Nasional, saying he would now take the matter to the Federal Government for immediate attention.

He assured he would find out what had gone wrong in the promise.

The residents, however, were pleased with the sincerity of Tiong in helping them, saying the MP was a man of his word.

They are now looking forward to Tiong as their mediator in this development matter.

According to the Bintulu MP, he said he knew a tender for the road project was called five years ago.

“However, due to technical problems, the project has been delayed. Until now, there is still no news on it.”

He said facing the same situation was the proposed building of Ulu Pandan, but now, that project had resumed and was in progress.

 “I assure you, the BN Government will not forget their promises to the people.”

On the promise made a decade ago, Tiong said the concerned persons should not have done so if they were unclear of the situation.

He added that when problems cropped up in a development progress, the persons concerned should have returned to explain to the people to avoid misunderstanding.

He called on SPDP members in the areas to be eyes and ears so that they could reflect the sentiments of the people to the government.