BINTULU: Sarawak may see another bridge project in the Sebauh area, with the construction of a bridge in Labang among the infrastructure developments being considered alongside road upgrades for rural communities.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state government would continue implementing road projects that had already been approved, including improvements to roads serving longhouse communities and areas previously dependent on logging roads.
He said the government hoped to make further progress on these projects by the time he next visited the area.
“Insya-Allah, when I come here again, perhaps we will have opened another bridge, namely the Labang Bridge, and continue with the road projects that we have decided on,” he said at the opening ceremony of the Batang Kemena Bridge in Sebauh here today (Nov 9).
Abang Johari said the completion of the Batang Kemena Bridge is an important step, but the government also recognised that residents still needed better access to roads and other basic infrastructure.
He referred to a video shown during the event depicting the poor condition of roads in several areas, including Jalan Ulu Binyok, the logging road in Ulu Jelalong, Tubau, and roads in the Tatau district.
He said the state government has already agreed to take responsibility for developing the roads during a Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) meeting.
Abang Johari stressed that the decisions had been made before the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly and are not merely announcements made in anticipation of an election.
“What has been decided will be implemented. We will develop the roads that have been identified and, at the very least, ensure that they are in better condition and can be used more comfortably,” he said.
He added that the state government had also taken over responsibility for logging roads, which collectively stretched for more than 5,000 kilometres.
Abang Johari said he had initially asked whether the state had sufficient funds to undertake the task after Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas informed him of the total length of the roads.
However, he gave his assurance that the state would allocate funds to upgrade them for the benefit of rural communities.
He said longhouse residents relied on these roads for their daily journeys and had previously depended on logging companies to maintain and manage access.
“By taking over these roads, we want the people to be able to use them free of charge, without having to pay tolls. The state government will provide the allocation to upgrade them,” he said.
He assured residents that the government would continue these efforts to provide more comfortable facilities and improve connectivity for communities in areas that still lacked proper road access and infrastructure.
