BAU: A bypass will be constructed in Serikin to divert traffic away from the village once the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security Complex (ICQS) is completed in the next two years.
Deputy Minister of Transport Datuk Henry Harry Jinep said the Serikin ICQS project, set to be tendered this year, will significantly increase cross-border vehicle movement from Indonesia.
To manage traffic flow efficiently, he said a bypass will be built from behind the complex, connecting to the main bridge, ensuring vehicles do not pass through the village.
“A dual carriageway is planned from the bypass to Bau, while the road from Serikin to Bau will be upgraded into a four-lane carriageway spanning 22 kilometres, with an estimated cost exceeding RM500 million.
“We are prioritising the ICQS first. Once that is completed, we will proceed with the bypass and road expansion in stages,” he said.
He said this during his visit to the Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) pipe connection site in Kampung Serikin today (Mar 15).
The Tasik Biru assemblyman also stressed the need to improve the Serikin Weekend Street Market area, ensuring a safer and more organised environment for traders and visitors.
He urged that plans include maintaining the trading zone while enhancing hygiene, security, and regulatory oversight by relevant authorities such as immigration and police.
For the record, the RM50 million Serikin ICQS project aims to meet international border standards, similar to Indonesia’s National Border Post (PLBN) in Kalimantan Barat.
Last year, DayakDaily reported that the Department of Industry and Trade for Bengkayang Regency, West Kalimantan, expressed hope for the swift completion of the Serikin ICQS Complex.
Its director, Yan Ukin, said that the ICQS would not only streamline cross-border trade between Malaysia and Indonesia but also boost the local economy and strengthen security along the Sarawak-Kalimantan border.
Although Indonesia’s Border Post (PLBN) in Jagoi Babang was completed in July 2023, passport processing remains on hold until the Serikin ICQS becomes operational.
