BINTULU: The long-awaited Batang Kemena Bridge has officially opened, improving connectivity for residents in Sebauh while paving the way for further development in the area, including more housing opportunities.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the bridge would make daily travel easier for the local community and serve as a catalyst for development along the Kemena River.
He congratulated Sebauh residents on the completion of the bridge, which he said had long been hoped for by the people in the area.
He said the development of Sebauh and parts of Tatau had also been incorporated into the Bintulu Development Authority’s (BDA) master plan to ensure infrastructure and development were planned in a more coordinated manner.
Abang Johari said the move followed a proposal by Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom to develop parts of Bintulu and Tatau districts, with better infrastructure links to Bintulu.
He said the government had subsequently asked BDA to include Sebauh and parts of Tatau in its development planning.
“When Bintulu develops, the benefits will also spill over to the surrounding areas,” he said during the opening ceremony of the Batang Kemena Bridge in Sebauh here today (Nov 9).
Abang Johari said one of the challenges arising from Bintulu’s rapid growth is the rising cost of housing, driven partly by high demand and limited land availability.
He noted that the arrival of investors and workers in Bintulu had increased demand for housing, with rental rates reaching as high as RM3,000.
While expatriates might be able to afford such rental rates, he said the situation posed a challenge for local residents.
He said the state government has been looking at ways to address the issue, including improving connectivity between Bintulu and surrounding areas to create more options for people seeking affordable homes.
Abang Johari said one of the first infrastructure projects he pursued after taking over the state leadership was the bridge connecting Bintulu and Jepak.
He said the decision to build the bridge is aimed at improving connectivity, while another bridge is needed to ease travel difficulties faced by residents in the area, particularly during festive seasons when traffic congestion was common.
He said the Batang Kemena Bridge was secured through state funding, adding that two bridges had now been built in the Kemena area within six years, with a combined cost of more than RM500 million.
“Both bridges were built using our own funds. We did not ask Kuala Lumpur for an allocation. Even if we did, there was no certainty that we would receive it,” he said.
He said the state will continue finding ways to increase its revenue to finance infrastructure development and meet the needs of its people.
