BUKIT PANJANG (Agricultural Roads) (Statement)

Mr Goh Tong Liang asked the Minister for Local Government, Lands and Housing if he will make a statement regarding the construction programme for agricultural roads in the Bukit Panjang electoral division.

Dato Abdul Hamid Bin Haji Jumat: Mr Speaker, Sir, for the construction and improvement of agricultural roads in the Bukit Panjang electoral division of the Legislative Assembly, the Rural Board's normal programme for 1958 would permit the making up of roads totalling approximately 15 miles in length at a total cost of $79,000. To date work has been commenced and is expected to be completed by the end of this year on three roads totalling a distance of 4 miles approximately, while work on the remaining roads, some 12 miles long, is being planned and will be put in hand later.

Apart from this, Sir, Government, bearing in mind the necessity for accelerating the improvement of rural areas, has directed the carrying out simultaneously of a further programme of road construction and improvement. Out of the provision of $730,000 which was voted in the Assembly this year, Government will be spending $113,000 on the construction of 21 miles of road in the Bukit Panjang electoral division of the Legislative Assembly. Up to date two miles of road have already been completed and 14 miles are under construction and are expected to be completed by the end of the year.