SARAWAK will again dig into its coffers to repair damages to the highly controversial, federal funded Jiwa Murni road.

Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg today announced RM50 million to repair the critically important Belaga-Menjawah road that was damaged by a landslide on December 15.

The landslide at the 37th kilometre stretch of the road has cut off the only land route of a remote town along the Rajang River.

Food and other essential supplies are now hauled to the town via river, made treacherous by heavy rain and swift current.

The chief minister, who flew to Belaga to inspect flood damages there, was told in a Christmas gathering that the cost of the repair is estimated by the Public Works Department to be around RM86 million.

He told the Belaga folk that the remaining RM36 million for the 36km road  would “be made available later in a long term and systematic bid to improve road connectivity in the district”.

“I am very much aware of the communication problem here,” he was quoted in a media statement from his office, as saying and added that Belaga district needs a systematic development plan to overcome the issues.

The landslide was triggered by prolonged heavy rain, according to Belaga assemblyman Liwan Lagang.

The district has a population of some 18,000 people, most of whom live in longhouses scattered in the jungles of the area. – December 27, 2017.