KAPIT: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak continued his walkabout to the interior areas of Sarawak by going to Pekan Song and Kapit in Ulu Rajang, the longest river in Malaysia.

Immediately upon arriving by helicopter at the Song district field at 9.30am, the prime minister proceeded to the town centre with 5,000 people, mostly comprising the Iban community who cheered ’1Malaysia’ and ‘Hidup Barisan Nasional’ (long live Barisan Nasional).

Najib, who is the first prime minister to come to the small town, was greeted with a traditional cultural performance by students of a secondary school here.

In his speech, Najib announced an allocation of RM90 million for the construction of a road stretching about 40km from Song to Kapit, which is now only accessible by river.

He said the tender for the project would be invited shortly to enable construction work to start.

The announcement by Najib brightened the hopes of the people in the interior areas of Rajang to enjoy road facility between Sibu-Kanowit-Song-Kapit which can be reached only by express boats through Sungai Rajang.

The journey by express boat from Sibu to Song takes more than an hour through Kanowit town while the journey from Song to Kapit takes three hours.

Najib also criticised opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who made promises to the people in the interior areas now but did not help them when he (Anwar) was the Finance Minister previously.

He said the opposition only came during the election whereas the Barisan Nasional would continue to bring development after the election.

The prime minister said now everyone, including the people of Sarawak, knew Anwar’s story.

“Everyone knows now. Just mention the Omega watch and the people of Song too know. ‘Do you know the story of the Omega watch?’ asked Najib, to which the people responded ‘We do’”.

After going on a walkabout in town later to shake hands with members of the public, Najib boarded the helicopter to continue his journey to Kapit.  – Bernama

(Source : Borneo Post Online, 15/4/2011)