‘Works on 22km-Bajau road, Sg Krian bridge to start mid next year’
KUCHING: Work on the upgrading of the 22km- Bajau road to Kampung Kupang and a bridge across Sungai Krian in Saratok are expected to start middle of next year,
Assistant Minister of Coastal Road Datuk Julaihi Narawi, however, said this federalfunded projects were subject to further instructions from the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development according to an official letter from the Ministry of Finance ( MoF) dated June 29, 2018.
“These projects are classified as Category B (medium critical) which have to be reviewed by Economic Planning Unit for reconsideration,” he told the august House yesterday.
Expressing concerns over the uncertainty in the implementation of the two projects costing RM180 million after the Pakatan Harapan ( PH) federal government came into power, Julaihi said it had a direct impact on Sarawak and its people.
“If not implemented, the losing ones are Sarawakians and in particular the rural community. We thus hope that Sarawak MPs can urge the federal government to put aside their political differences, and give priority to the development of rural Sarawak.
“We are watching you ( MPs); whether you are sincere in assisting them,” he said in response to Datuk Abdul Wahab Aziz’s ( PBB-Kalaka) question on the progress of the projects.
The works to upgrade the road from Kampung Kupang to Jalan Bajau has been divided into two parts.
Part one involves upgrading farm roads to JKR R3- standard road of about 2km long, access roads of 8.3km, and roads connecting longhouses and a school.
“Part two involves construction, rebuilding and upgrading a few small bridges, roadside drains, installation of signages and others,” he added.