KUCHING: Public Works Department (PWD) Sarawak is ready to implement infrastructure projects in the state as announced by the federal government under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the state government is looking forward to those projects which includes road infrastructure that will improve connectivity.
“As proposed earlier on, there is a plan for the border road to be implemented. Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg had also announced several strategic road infrastructure projects, including the Sabah-Sarawak Link Road 2 as well as highways.
“So, we are grateful PWD is ready to implement all the projects approved by the federal government for Sarawak,” he said.
Uggah, who is also the Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development, said this to reporters after officiating at the 37th Kuching City Day celebration at Pangkalan Sapi here on Friday.
On the previously announced additional allocation of RM1 billion to upgrade infrastructure and increase capability of the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) complexes at Sarawak and Sabah borders, and implementing road infrastructure by the federal government in January 2023, Uggah said the matter is in planning stage now.
“This is part of the planning we are currently working on. We have been in discussions with Kuala Lumpur. It has been approved, so it’s now in the planning phase,” he said.
On the proposed locality of the border roads, Uggah said that the state has an extensive road network now.
“This includes the Sabah-Sarawak Link Road 1, Sabah-Sarawak Link Road 2, the Pan Borneo Highway, and other highways.
“We also have several projects along the border, therefore, we will assess how they will be connected later,” he said.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when tabling the 13MP in Parliament, said the federal government will continue implementing key cross-border infrastructure projects to strengthen connectivity and regional economic integration.
Among the projects are the upgrading of the Rantau Panjang-Sungai Kolok Bridge which links Malaysia and Thailand, the upgrading of border road networks connecting Sabah and Sarawak with Kalimantan, Indonesia, the development of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link between Malaysia and Singapore, and the upgrading of the Perlis Inland Port which serves as a key trade route between Malaysia and Thailand.
Anwar said the government will also proceed with the upgrading of ICQS complexes at Bukit Kayu Hitam and Rantau Panjang, as well as CIQ facilities in Sabah and Sarawak.
Attention is also being given to rural connectivity, with plans to build and upgrade 2,800 kilometres of roads under the Plan.
The projects in the pipelines include the Jalan Nanga Serau-Nanga Seranau in Kapit, Sarawak; the road connecting Sungai Air Tawar bridge to Hutan Melintang in Bagan Datuk, Perak; and Jalan Pos Sinderut in Lipis, Pahang.
