KUCHING: Construction works on the new bridge for Kampung Kudei Dunggun which will begin this month, will benefit residents of 168 houses in the area.
A political secretary to the premier, Abdul Samat Gany, was present today (Feb 10) to witness the handing over of the project by the Public Works Department (PWD) to contractor OKU Enterprise Sdn Bhd.
The two packages of the 189-metre-long route project – package A (120m) and package B (69m) – are scheduled to be completed by Aug 6 this year.
Belian wood will be used for the upgrading works.
The project is slated to start on Feb 20.
Also present during the project handover ceremony were Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Muhibbah sub branch chief Ali Sujang, PWD assistant divisional engineer Sahril Mat Noor, OKU Enterprise Sdn Bhd owner Jeremy Alwyn and Kampung Kudei community leader Supardi Abdullah.
Meanwhile, villagers expressed their gratitude to Satok assemblyman Datuk Ibrahim Baki for keeping to his word on the new bridge.
Kampung Kudei Dunggun village head Philip Chakat hoped that efforts to develop the village would continue in the future with various other initiatives implemented by the state government.
“There were holes in some areas, and we had to patch them ourselves using boards or sticks to prevent people from falling.
“I would like to thank Datuk Ibrahim Baki for fulfilling his promise during the recent election (GE15), we are placing our full trust in him.
“I also want to thank Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. We hope he will continue to assist us,” he said when met by reporters.
Village safety and development committee member Khairul Azam Cham Abdullah said the old bridge had to be replaced as the area is prone to flooding.
“This is the second time that the bridge will be rebuilt. The first was in 2015 after a flash flood,” he said, adding that several quarters have also helped the village in the past.
He hoped the next task would be to address issues such as electricity supply to the squatter village.
“This will come later, we are focusing on one project at a time,” he added.
Villager Alip Beli thanked the government for addressing the plight of the village.
He said the village has existed for more than half a century with multiple generations as its residents.
“We are thankful for the state government’s support and assistance,” he said.
