KUCHING: Puncak Borneo MP Datuk Willie Mongin has dismissed claims that three Sarawak bridge projects were cancelled to make way for the Sarawak Sabah Link Road (SSLR), calling the allegation false and misleading.
Willie said the claim was inconsistent with the actual chronology of events, official government records and the Dewan Rakyat Hansard.
“These claims are inaccurate, misleading and inconsistent with the actual chronology, official government records and the Dewan Rakyat Hansard,” he said in a statement today (Jul 11).
Willie said the Batang Lupar, Kuala Igan and Rambungan bridge projects were among about 400 development projects cancelled by the Pakatan Harapan federal government in 2018 following a nationwide review prompted by financial constraints.
He cited a Ministry of Finance announcement on Oct 5, 2018 stating that the cancellations involved projects with less than 15 per cent progress, projects approved but not yet tendered, and projects that had been tendered but had yet to begin.
He also referred to then finance minister Lim Guan Eng’s explanation that several mega projects nationwide had to be cancelled or restructured because of the country’s financial position following the change in government.
Willie said the Dewan Rakyat Hansard dated Oct 14, 2019 confirmed that then works minister Baru Bian told Parliament the three bridge projects had been cancelled by the federal government before the Sarawak government decided to proceed with them using state funds.
He said Baru also informed the House that the federal allocation would instead be used for other projects in Sarawak, without identifying SSLR as the recipient.
“When questioned by Saratok MP Datuk Ali Biju on the use of the allocation, the minister only said it would remain for other projects in Sarawak without naming SSLR,” he said.
Willie said the chronology further disproved the allegation, noting that the bridge projects were cancelled in 2018, SSLR was announced as a priority project by the Ministry of Works in 2019, and Phase 1 only received approval for a fresh federal allocation in 2020.
He added that the procurement process for Phase 1 of SSLR had begun as early as 2017 when Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof was works minister, before the project was officially approved in 2020 at a cost of RM1.2 billion during Baru Bian’s tenure.
“This means that when the three bridge projects were cancelled in 2018, SSLR had not yet received federal funding approval. Therefore, claims that the bridges were cancelled to finance SSLR are not consistent with the actual timeline,” he said.
Willie also rejected a statement issued by Baru in April 2021 that the bridge allocations had been redirected to SSLR as part of development priorities.
He said the Dewan Rakyat Hansard dated Oct 14, 2019 made no mention of the bridge funds being specifically transferred to SSLR, while the project itself only secured federal funding through a separate evaluation and fresh allocation process in 2020.
Willie also pointed to the Dewan Rakyat Hansard dated June 9, 2015, in which then Kota Samarahan MP Rubiah Wang appealed for the construction of several bridges, including Batang Rambungan, Batang Lupar and Kuala Igan, to complete the Sarawak Coastal Road network.
He said this showed the bridge projects had long formed part of the Sarawak Coastal Road development agenda and were not projects created to be replaced by SSLR.
“The chronology clearly shows that SSLR was not financed through funds from the three bridge projects. It was a new project that received a fresh allocation from the federal government,” he said.
Willie said Parliamentary Hansard and federal government statements had never stated that funds from the three bridge projects were transferred to SSLR.
He credited the Sarawak government under Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg for financing the construction of the three bridges after their cancellation by the federal government.
He urged all parties to stop spreading claims not supported by facts, saying discussions on Sarawak’s development should be based on official records, Parliamentary Hansard and the actual chronology of events rather than misleading narratives.
