KUCHING: Several major infrastructure initiatives in the Engkilili constituency are moving through the pre-construction stage, signalling the Sarawak Government’s continued commitment to improving connectivity and community wellbeing in the rural interior.
Engkilili assemblyman, Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa, said at least two proposed state-funded infrastructure projects, together with a special community rebuilding initiative, are currently undergoing critical planning and preparatory works before construction can begin.
He described the projects as essential to the constituency’s long-term development agenda, with each expected to improve accessibility, mobility and living conditions for residents.
Among the most significant is the proposed Basi Road linking Brayun and Sungai Basi to the Kuching-Sibu trunk road.
The 24.6-kilometre road project carries an estimated cost of RM77.5 million and is expected to provide a strategic shortcut connecting Simanggang town to the Pan Borneo Highway at Kampung Stuga in Engkilili.
The project, spearheaded by the Sri Aman Development Authority (SADA), has progressed beyond the planning phase and is currently in the tender evaluation stage before the award of the construction contract.
Johnical said the new road would strengthen transport links within the constituency while enhancing connectivity to the state’s major highway network, benefitting residents, businesses and the agricultural sector.
Another key project advancing through its preliminary stage is the proposed construction of Jalan Tebarong (Phase 1).
Initial site preparation and preliminary works are already underway, although the project’s estimated cost of RM2.3 million is expected to be revised following a realignment of the road alignment and design.
The project forms part of a broader state-funded infrastructure development package under SADA aimed at improving rural accessibility across the constituency.
In addition to road development, Johnical highlighted a special government initiative to rebuild Rumah Peter Igoh in Mujan, Skrang.
The proposed 28-door longhouse, estimated to cost RM1.7 million, has been opened for tender through the Sarawak Public Works Department (PWD) under the Lubok Antu District charity assistance programme.
The project was initiated after a devastating fire in early 2023 destroyed the residents’ previous wooden longhouse, leaving numerous families without permanent shelter.
Once completed, the replacement longhouse will provide safe and modern housing for the affected Heads of Household (KIR), restoring stability and security to the community.
Johnical said the projects reflect the Sarawak Government’s determination to ensure that rural communities are not left behind, with infrastructure improvements and targeted assistance continuing to form the backbone of development efforts in Engkilili.
