MIRI: Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin agrees that the federal government should consider constructing an alternative road or bypass road from Lawas and Limbang to Miri that does not pass through Brunei in addition to the Pan Borneo Highway.
He said he supported the call by Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development assistant minister Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail for the federal government to do so.
Lee pointed out that the bypass road would open up more areas for economic activities, especially for agricultural and tourism development.
“It will also provide more efficient road connectivity and land transportation not only between Limbang Division and Miri Division but also extend the direct linkage to Sabah from Miri as well,” the assistant minister added in a statement released on Thursday.
He added that the present road network had to go through Brunei and many border checkpoints, making it very time consuming and inconvenient for travellers.
“The bypass road can also facilitate tourists traveling by road from Sabah all the way from Lawas to Miri and vice versa. It will be much more convenient for the movements of people and transportation of goods without having to go through Brunei immigration and customs clearance,” he explained.
“Presently, I understand our people from Lawas have to undergo immigration clearance eight times, meaning 16 times to and fro, in order to travel to Miri. If they go through Merapok, they have to undergo Immigration clearance two more times, meaning 18 times to and fro from Lawas to Miri and return,” he pointed out.
Lee believed an alternative road or bypass from Lawas and Limbang to Miri would help Miri grow as the economic hub of the northern region of Sarawak.
“There is a very strong justification to expedite the implementation of the bypass road,” he stressed.
Lee thanked the Brunei government for its strong cooperation, support and assistance to Sarawak during the border crossings all these years.
“We are also grateful to Brunei for allowing us to go through its country for important matters such as emergencies and the delivery of essential items since the implementation of the movement control order (MCO) on March 18.
“During the present recovery movement control order (RMCO), we fervently hope Brunei will consider allowing Malaysians to go through the country to Limbang and Lawas for other purposes, such as visiting parents, children, sending their school-going children and perhaps also certain mutually beneficial cross border economic activities where mutually agreed standard operating procedures (SOPs) have to be complied with,” he said.
