SEBUYAU: Despite being side-lined by the previous Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, Sarawakians were delighted when Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state government would bear the cost of all cancelled bridges, including the Batang Lupar Bridge.
Batang Lupar MP Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government had healed the grief left behind by the PH government.
“I was quite sad when my hopes for the Batang Lupar Bridge construction were buried.
“As an elected representative, the cancellation was always brought up in the Dewan Rakyat in the hope that the government at that time would reconsider.
“But now, the GPS government has come to the rescue.
“On behalf of the people in the coastal areas, especially in Batang Lupar parliamentary constituency, I wish to thank Abang Johari.
“Indeed, he himself acknowledges the importance of the bridge for connectivity in the state,” she told Suara Sarawak on Monday (March 22).
She said on Tuesday (March 23), a dream would become reality, marking the start of the Batang Lupar Bridge project.
“I’m sure the bridge would change the landscape of various sectors in the coastal areas.
“I’m confident this area will be the route of choice for people travelling to other districts due to the shorter travel time.
“Various plans would be drawn up to boost activities and attractions in this area later.”
Touching on the timeline of the bridge’s construction plan, Rohani said it started from the application for ferry services from Sebuyau to Triso.
She pointed out that when she first submitted a request for ferry services, many dissenting voices were heard.
“But thankfully the request was approved. Meanwhile, the request for the bridge project occurred during former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s tenure.
“As far as I can remember, during Najib’s visit to Sarawak at that time, I took the opportunity to request for the bridge from him before boarding a helicopter with the late Chief Minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem.”
