SEBUYAU: Assistant Infrastructure and Ports Development Minister Datuk Julaihi Narawi has slammed certain quarters for politicising the earth-breaking ceremony of the Batang Lupar Bridge.
He said the earth-breaking today was one of a series of ceremonies for bridge and coastal road projects in Sarawak, officiated by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg since April 6, 2019.
“The other ceremonies before this were done at different sites of the bridge.
“So, today’s ceremony is the eighth. It is not a repeat as claimed by certain quarters who are unable to accept the fact that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government is capable of building bridges and coastal roads as planned and using the state’s own money,” he during the ceremony today.
Julaihi added that work on the Batang Lupar project had commenced. “This proves that GPS under Abang Johari fulfils its promises.”
He also said construction should have started a long time back when it was approved by the then Barisan Nasional federal government based on a 50-50 cost sharing agreement with the state government.
“When Pakatan Harapan (PH) took over the federal government, they cancelled the project.
“Batang Lupar Bridge is the most strategic bridge located on the coastal road network, and if this project had not been cancelled by the PH government, I believe that today the construction, following the planned schedules, would already reach 50 percent.”
The Sebuyau assemblyman said the GPS state government decided to take over, and when the Batang Lupar Bridge was completed, it would benefit locals as the journey would be shorter and there was no need to use the ferry anymore.
“The Batang Lupar Bridge is the longest bridge to span a river in Sarawak and in Malaysia. Therefore, it is right for me to say that this bridge can be called the King of the Bridges in Sarawak and in Malaysia as well.”
With all infrastructure development in place, he said this proved that GPS had the capability to construct big projects for the people.
“We should learn from what had happened when PH took over and discarded all these projects.
“So, when election comes, let’s make sure that GPS continues to lead Sarawak.”
