KUCHING: All government-funded projects to upgrade the former logging roads in rural areas in the state have been suspended until further instructions.
Assistant Minister of Coastal Road Datuk Julaihi Narawi said that the decision was announced through a circular issued by the Ministry of Finance recently.
“We hope that the friends of Pakatan Harapan (PH) can work together to ensure that this fourth phase of the project can continue.
“The Task Force Committee headed by my Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has been entrusted to identify and prioritise abandoned ex-logging roads for the Gazettement as state roads in line with the State Road Ordinance 1994,” he explained in response to Dennis Ngau who raised questions about government policy for the upgrading of rural ex-logging roads at the First Meeting of the 18th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here yesterday.
He added that the committee consisted of representatives from the Chief Minister’s Office, State Attorney-General’s Chambers, Land and Survey Department, Public Works Department (JKR) and Forest Department.
“This is for the purpose of registering the road under Malaysian Road Record Information System (Marris) to become eligible for maintenance allocation as an immediate term measure.
“For the long-term, rehabilitation or upgrading work will be studied or reviewed for future implementation,” he said.
He mentioned that the three-phase projects in Telang Usan and Mulu constituencies have been completed which costed RM64 million (first phase which included 13 places in Mulu constituency and one place in Telang Usan constituency), RM4.55 million for second phase in one location in Telang Usan constituency and RM 53.85 million for the third phase for four locations (Mulu constituency) and seven in Telang Usan constituency.
“Meanwhile, the design for the fourth phase costing RM70.62 million for eight places in Mulu constituency and another 12 in Telang Usan constituency have been finalised.
“Phase 4 is ready for tender in the fourth quarter of 2018 subject to further instructions from KKLW,” he explained.
