KUCHING: The Ministry of Works (KKR) is urged to provide a clear description of bridge projects status in Sarawak.
Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) stalwart Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the status of the constructions of Batang Lupar Bridge, Rambungan Bridge and the Igan Bridge are now uncertain.
According to him, the constructions of these bridges are very important because they are the ‘missing link’ that can link the Sarawak coastal areas and will further increase the economic opportunities of the locals.
Fadillah explained that according to the original plan, the construction project of Batang Lupar Bridge should begin this year with construction cost estimated at RM1 billion to be incurred jointly by the federal and state governments.
Similarly with the Igan Bridge and Rambungan Bridge projects which have been at the tender finalising stage before the change of the government took place and now, the status of the three bridge projects are blurred or uncertain.
“I would like to ask the Works Minister who is also a Sarawakian, whether the three bridge projects which are really needed by the Sarawak people will be implemented as planned or not.
“I really hope the works ministry will give a clear answer so that the people of Sarawak will not be wondering what are the real status of these projects as they are really necessary for the people in the areas,” he added.
He said this when debating the Supply Bill 2019/ National Budget 2019 at the Dewan Rakyat, yesterday.
Fadillah added that the allocation for Sarawak works ministry also decreased from RM297 million this year to only RM242 million in 2019, a decrease of about RM50 million for the construction of bridges and roads in Sarawak.
Hence, he again sought explanation from the federal government why the allocation for Sarawak was reduced and whether the infra projects would be implemented in Sarawak for 2019.
Fadillah who is also Petra Jaya Member of Parliament added, the allocation for roads maintenance, the amount allocated in Budget 2019 is too small and not enough to cover the real needs.
“Only RM20 million is allocated for road maintenance in Sabah, Sarawak and the Federal Territory of Labuan in 2019 compared to RM70 million this year, while for the Peninsular only RM80 million was allocated in 2019 compared to RM330 million this year.
“I’m worried that these dramatically reduced provisions will affect the quality of road maintenance in the country, thus causing the risk of road safety,” he explained.
In the meantime, Fadillah questioned how the works ministry would address the reduction of the allocation and steps taken to ensure no compromise in terms of road safety.
However, he expressed his gratitude to the ministry for continuing several projects approved by the previous government, especially the Pan Borneo project as well as the upgrading of Jalan Datuk Mohd Musa, Kota Samarahan and building a flyover at the junction of Jalan Medan Jaya-Jalan Tun Hussein Onn, Bintulu.
