SIBU: Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) has been urged to immediately begin the upgrading works on Jalan Ling Kai Cheng, one of Sibu’s main roads heavily used by the people.
In making the call, Sibu Member of Parliament, Oscar Ling Chai Yew, pointed out that the Premier had already allocated RM2.5 million for the project, and there should no longer be any reason for delays.
“The Premier has recently expressed regret during a Ramadan gathering in Kuching, highlighting that many government projects which have been announced and funded are progressing slowly or have not even started.
“This reflects a broader issue in Sarawak, where delayed projects and procrastination in implementation have become a serious problem,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Ling stressed that the Sarawak government must now work to resolve these delays, including the Jalan Ling Kai Cheng upgrading project, which must begin immediately.
He emphasised that Jalan Ling Kai Cheng, being one of Sibu’s main roads heavily used by Sibu people, has for a long time faced frequent flooding during high tides and the rainy season.
The surrounding residents, he pointed out, especially those in the Ulu Sungai Merah and Rantau Panjang areas, were the most affected.
He stated flooding on this road caused further congestion on other roads, sometimes resulting in traffic jams that lasted several hours and significantly disrupted daily life.
“The flooding problem on this stretch isn’t new – related complaints have been around for a long time.
“Every rainy season or high tide brings serious flooding that makes the road impassable to vehicles. Not only is this a major inconvenience.
“If the issue is not resolved promptly, it will continue to negatively impact the quality of life for Sibu residents and damage public confidence in the government’s efficiency in handling infrastructure projects.
“Now that the Sarawak government has approved RM2.5 million in special funding for the road upgrade, the SMC must commence work immediately without further delays,” he said.
Ling also called on both the state government and SMC to take a hard look at the recurring delays in government projects – especially road upgrades – which often inconvenienced the public even more than the original issues.
Urging the responsible agencies to set clear timelines and keep the public informed about the project’s start and completion progress, he stated that the government had a duty to maintain transparency and actively provide updates.
“Hopefully, the Sarawak government will show efficiency and transparency – once a project is approved, it must be implemented swiftly to solve the existing problems.
“The upgrading of Jalan Ling Kai Cheng is not just an infrastructure project, but one that directly affects the livelihoods of the people.
“With better coordination among all involved departments, I believe the issue of project delays can be significantly reduced,” Ling added.
