‘Ministry of Works reviewing 3 bridge projects in Sarawak’

KUCHING: Ministry of Works is in the process of reviewing three coastal bridge projects in Sarawak.

Minister Baru Bian said the three projects are the building of Batang Rambungan Bridge, Batang Igan Bridge and Batang Lupar Bridge.

“These projects are under review as they require a large sum of government commitment,” he said when met after a press conference held at a hotel here yesterday.

Baru, who is Selangau MP and Ba Kelalan assemblyman, said the ministry had funded three projects throughout the 10th and 11th Malaysia Plan.

These projects, according to him, were under the coastal roads and bridges category with a total cost of implementation at RM495 million.

They were the upgrading of Jalan Kidurong to Samalaju Industrial Park project, Batang Sadong Bridge project and Batang Samarahan Bridge project.

He said the ministry would undertake coastal roads and bridges projects in the state from time to time, depending on the approval from the federal government as well as the allocated funds.

During the conference, Baru pledged that his ministry would assist Sarawak in implementing coastal roads and bridges projects at every level.

“Because it is crucial and we do have the technical expertise to advise and supervise.

“Then you should also understand that certain projects are directly under JKR ( Public Works Department) or the purview of the ministry. The direct clear ones are federal roads.

“But there are certain roads that are state roads, taken care of by the state. There are certain roads that get the funding from the ministry as well while we are involved in the supervisory aspect,” he explained.

He said the ministry “will come in where we can” if the infrastructure projects are very crucial and important for Sarawak.

“Therefore, we would like to assist in whatever way we can,” he added.

In a congratulatory message after the swearing-in ceremony of the new federal cabinet members last Monday, his predecessor Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof expected Baru to make sure that Pan Borneo Highway project and some other major projects in Sarawak continue as planned and approved by the previous government.

Among the projects Fadillah mentioned were Batang Lupar Bridge project, Batang Igan Bridge project and Batang Rambungan Bridge project.