KUCHING: The state government is looking into solving the problems of constructing roads on peat soil.
According to Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri James Jemut Masing, 60 percent of the state’s soil is in peat swamps where roads are extremely difficult to build.
He said research is being done by the International Engineering Centre (IntEC) cum Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (Sarawak branch) to address the issue.
“West Malaysia does not have as much peat Sarawak. Thus, they cannot design and build roads on peat soil, but Sarawak can.
“So, I want to give them an opportunity to design the roads on peat soil. Unless we do this, we will have problems building roads on peat all over Sarawak,” he explained.
He said this when met by reporters after declaring open IntEC cum IEM Sarawak’s new office at The Isthmus here on Monday (Nov 2).
Masing revealed that the state government and IEM Sarawak have reached an agreement on a one-to-one basis matching grant.
“I promise them sometime last year that it’s a one to one basis. If they raise one dollar, then the government will give them one dollar. So, it’s one to one basis.
“If they give us good quality construction, then the government will give them the best facilities they need to succeed.
“We will also provide them with the necessary infrastructural facilities for them to do research as this is very important.
“Without the engineers helping to create a better road system, bridges and buildings, it will be very difficult for us to deliver these infrastructure with the quality that we aspire to,” he said.
The Infrastructure and Port Development Minister also said a bigger office building will be built in Kota Samarahan.
The International Technical Centre building will be designed to the green building index on a land provided by the state government with a cost of almost RM4 million.
“Research is very important to tackle the issue of building roads on peat soil. That’s why the state government needs to give them the necessary facilities so research can be done to find how best to find solutions.
“The state government is duty bound to give IEM the best possible equipment for them to find out the best possible design,” he said.
