by Peter Boon.
SIBU: Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh on Friday sought Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s help to remove toll charges on Lanang Bridge through the takeover of the bridge by federal government.
HOW ARE YOU?: Muhyiddin (second left) greeted by members of the public at the 1Malaysia dinner. Wong is at right.
He also appealed to Muhyiddin to elevate Kolej Laila Taib (KLT) to university status by next year.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Khaled Nordin had both previously agreed on this but Muhyiddin is the Education Minister.
On the first request, Wong, who is also Minister of Environment and Public Health, said: “It will be of great help not just to the people using the bridge but also for the development of land on the opposite side of Rajang River.
“Although the toll fee is minimal, it is a burden to users, especially those who stay across the river and those needing to make a few crossings per day. When the toll is lifted, Sibu will be able to expand on both sides of the river.”
Making the requests on behalf of Sibu people at the 1Malaysia dinner here, he said the state had requested the federal Ministry of Works to look into the possibility of taking over the bridge to become part of the federal highway – the trunk road between Kuching and Miri.
At present, there are 11 bridges from Sibu to Tanjung Manis which are federal funded and toll-free.
On the second request, Wong said Najib had visited KLT twice. Khaled too had visited the college. He pointed out that both of them had agreed to assist in the elevation of KLT to university status.
“We need the federal government’s help to elevate it to university status in the near future,” he said.
Wong said he believed Muhyiddin would give both requests due consideration because he (Muhyiddin) is a man of his words and had a thorough understanding of the local sentiments here.
“Muhyiddin has made vast changes to the education infrastructure nationwide and has also made numerous grants to deserving schools of the various communities.”
Wong pointed out that last year Muhyiddin presented a cheque for RM2 million to four schools here, namely SK Hua Hin English, SK Saint Mary, SJK (C) Uk Daik and SJK (C) Kiang Hin.
Among those present at the press conference were BN-SUPP candidates for Pelawan Vincent Goh, councillor Chieng Buong Toon (Bukit Assek), Datuk Tiong Thai King (Dudong), Dr Annuar Rapa’ee (PBB candidate for Nangka) and Sibu Resident Sim Kok Kee.
