BINTULU: The Sarawak Ministry of Transport (MoTS) will prepare a paper to revise the current weight restriction order and regulations regarding heavy vehicles on the state’s roads.
In stating this, Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Jerip Susil said the proposal would be submitted to the highest level of the Sarawak government and then to the federal government.
According to him, the weight restriction order in Sarawak was a challenge to logistics players due to its restrictions as well as the capacity of roads and bridges in the state.
“We cannot let the situation drag on because we know that the Sarawak government is very aggressive in advancing our economic sectors, especially the oil and gas sector, shipbuilding, manufacturing, heavy industry, agriculture and mining.
“All these sectors use heavy vehicles on our roads.
“Failure to resolve this issue will hinder the entire chain of economic activity, and may have serious implications for our aspirations to achieve higher economic growth by 2030,” he said as reported by UKAS.
He said this when officiating ‘The lab on weight restriction order: Solution to harmonise operation of heavy vehicles in Sarawak’ here on Friday (Feb 3).
Adding on, he said that MoTS was responsible for informing the federal government, especially the Ministry of Public Works, about the situation faced by industry players and requesting that the same weight be imposed in Sarawak.
“Experts told us that roads and bridges in Sarawak are designed according to the same standards and specifications as roads and bridges in Peninsular Malaysia.
“However, I understand that the weight allowed in Peninsular Malaysia is higher than that allowed in Sarawak. The same design standards must have the same conditions,” he stressed.
In light of this, Dr Jerip said that the laboratory held was very important to resolve the issue of heavy vehicle weight restrictions on the roads in Sarawak and facilitate the business sector and economic development throughout the state.
“We are all stakeholders in this issue and if the issue is not resolved, each of us will face the consequences.
“Furthermore, as a consumer, it will affect the price of goods and ultimately the cost of living.”
