SARIKEI: Construction work on the much-awaited Jalan Sarikei-Tanjung Manis is expected to start sometime this year, said Repok assemblyman Datuk Seri Huang Tuang Sii.
Huang who announced this at his Chinese New Year Open House recently drew strong applause from the more than 5,000 people who turned out for the event where they were also entertained to a myriad of songs and dances by artistes from Kuala Lumpur.
Locals in this pineapple-producing town and also Bintangor had been asking for the project for the past 10 years.
Presently without this 18km road, it takes them one hour to reach Sibu first, before going to the Tanjung Manis halal hub, which will take them another additional hour.
But with the proposed road, it would take them only 20 to 25 minutes to get to Tanjung Manis Road.
An elated Huang when met later said: “You can say that this is my biggest project to the people here as I have been fighting very hard for it at the State Legislative Assembly.”
He said the tender documents for the project were in the process of being drafted.
“The authority is now preparing the documents and maybe the tender will be called this year. I wish to thank the Chief Minister for approving this much-needed project. With this project, it will make life easier for the people,” he added.
To a question, he said the fund for the project is from the State government that would cost “hundreds of millions”.
On whether the project will be ready before the next state election which is due by May 2021, he said it might be after the election as they needed to take the weather into consideration.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, when officiating the launch of Sejiwa Senada outreach programme in Bintangor Town Basketball
Stadium last April 29, acknowledged the importance of the project as he said it would benefit the people of Sarikei and Bintangor as they could market their produce and also find employment in Tanjung Manis.
Abang Johari said the road, together with other proposed feeder roads in Sarikei, would involve a total construction cost of RM450 million.
He said Meradong is important to Sarikei as it has a lot of potential in the agricultural sector which can be developed through the use of digital economy.
