Malaysian DPM: Security Boost For Belaga District And Border Areas

BELAGA (Sarawak, Malaysia), Oct 17 Bernama) -- Security in the Belaga District and the areas close to the Indonesian border will be beefed up soon, said Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi Friday. He said an army border regiment would be stationed there while the strength of the local RELA (People's Volunteer Corps) members would be increased. He said this at a meet-the-people session at the Belaga Community Hall. Earlier on arrival, he declared open the Menjawah-Bakun Junction road, a project under the army's Jiwa Murni (pure soul) concept and also launched another similar project, the Menjawah-Nanga Merit Road. Zahid said strengthening up of the security was necessary because two huge hydroelectric dam projects, the Bakun and the Murum; were situated here while many settlements were close to the borders. "The improved security will be for the benefits of all," he said. On the 38-kilometer long Menjawah-Bakun junction road, he said the army engineering corps had built it at a cost of US$16.26 million (RM68 million). (US$1 = RM4.18) He said had the government through the Public Works Department constructed it, the cost would have been RM600 million. He also announced a government grant of RM37 million for a power supply project for the Sungai Asap Resettlement Area and RM4 million for the Belaga town waterfront beautification project. Zahid added these projects should not be construed as election gifts but more as the government's sincere commitment to help the people. Meanwhile, Army Chief Dr Zulkifeli Mohd Zin when met said he was still studying the plan to set up the border regiment. He said this could probably materialise within two years from now but he hoped it could be implemented as soon as possible. -- BERNAMA