Coastal erosion in Tanjung Riong, Maludam has reached a critical stage, threatening a key road linking coastal communities and prompting urgent calls for mitigation works to be expedited.
Lingga assemblywoman Dayang Noorazah Awang Sohor said the erosion, now less than 10 metres from the main Maludam–Semarang road, is no longer a routine environmental issue but a direct risk to public safety and connectivity.
While welcoming the proposed RM17.3 million wave barrier project under the federal government, she stressed that its implementation must be accelerated before the situation worsens and leads to a complete road disruption.
“If this road is cut off, it will not only affect the Maludam–Semarang route but also disrupt the wider strategic link from Batang Lupar Bridge 1 in Triso to Maludam and onward to Batang Saribas Bridge 1 towards Pusa,” she said during her debate on the motion of appreciation to the Head of State’s address at the DUN Sitting today.
She described the route as a vital lifeline for rural communities, supporting daily movement, economic activities and access to essential services.
She also highlighted a similar concern involving riverbank erosion along the Seduku–Lingga stretch, which is approaching dangerously close to the main road and now leaves only about 10 metres of buffer.
“If left unaddressed, this will jeopardise not only daily travel but also the broader road network connecting Sebuyau–Lingga Bridge to Lingga, Seduku, Stumbin and Sri Aman,” she said, urging swift mitigation measures.
Beyond infrastructure, she drew attention to persistent water supply disruptions from Tanah Baru Sembau to Tanjung Bijat, including low water pressure affecting daily operations at SMK Lingga, as well as unreliable telecommunications and internet access in Lingga district and Maludam sub-district.
On economic matters, she raised longstanding issues faced by FELCRA participants in Sarawak, citing weak governance, poor financial management and lack of transparency, compounded by challenges such as NCR land disputes, unsuitable soil, ageing plantations and fluctuating commodity prices.
Reaffirming her support for the motion, she called for people-centric development, stressing that progress must be measured by tangible improvements in daily life while safeguarding unity and ensuring no community is left behind.
