“No divisions should be left behind in terms roads and other infrastructure development. The roads may be rough but they are catalysts for opening up more land for commercial plantation in the interior,” said
YB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, Deputy Chief Minister
and Minister of Infrastructure Development & Communications. That
is essentially the sentiment behind the implementation of the Coastal
Road Programme by the state government, as the coastal regions of
Sarawak have been lagging behind in real socio-economic development for
some time.
A good network of roads is necessary to bring the remote regions into
the main stream of development and also push Sarawak into a developed
state by 2020. With the coastal roads running
parallel to the existing main trunk Kuching-Miri road, mobility and
economic viability of rural areas would be greatly increased. Stretching 1,167km from Sematan to Bakam, the coastal roads will cost an estimated RM1.6 billion once completed.
The 65km coastal highway project stretching from Tanjong Kidurong in Bintulu to Bakam in Miri was recently completed. This project will link the Tanjong Kidurong, Suai, Niah, Sibuti and Bakam areas. Other
coastal road projects encompass the 42km Triso/ Meludam/ Pusa Road,
35km Pusa/ Sessang Road and 30km Selalang/ Tanjong Manis Road. Under
the Ninth Malaysia Plan, more bridges will be built to connect the
multitude number of rivers in Sarawak to the road networks. These bridges include the new Mukah Bridge and upcoming Batang Kayan Bridge in Lundu.
According to YB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, plans to link and
open up the interior of Kapit Division with road networks are also
proposed in the 9MP. Once the system of roads is
in place, agriculture/ aquaculture activities and eco-tourism will
increase, and major urban and freight centres would become accessible
and convenient for the processing of oil palms and so forth. Ultimately,
the local populace will gain in employment opportunities and improved
standard of living, especially the rural folks.
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rsnews-03.06
