Pakatan Harapan government urged to continue construction of three bridges

A GOVERNMENT backbencher hopes that Works Minister Baru Bian under the Pakatan Harapanled federal government will continue with the constructions of the three bridges namely Batang Igan, Rambungan and Batang Lupar which were approved during the previous Barisan Nasional ( BN) government.

Aidel Lariwoo ( PBB- Sadong Jaya) said the bridges were crucial because they form an important link for the coastal road.

The request by Aidel was also in line with the Assistant Minister of Coastal Road Datuk Julaihi Narawi, who had on several occasions expressed the hope the new federal government will continue with the three projects.

“It is our fervent hope that the new Works Minister ( Baru Bian) will consider the request for the construction of the bridges which are very important for our coastal road to link the coastal areas in Sarawak,” he told the august House when debating motion of appreciation for Head of State’s opening address.

Batang Igan and Rambungan are wholly funded by the federal government, while Batang Lupar is on a 50- 50 per cent initiative, and was agreed upon under the previous federal government.

He also hoped that Sarawak government will improve the existing coastal road from R3 to R5, saying that it was one of the resolutions reached at the Sarawak Coastal Road Development Seminar held in March this year.

Aidel also hoped that Sarawak government would look into the problem of congestion in Malay traditional villages in rural and coastal areas.

He pointed out that the congestion could lead to social ills and other problems like the spread of diseases and fires.

“To solve the problem of congestion in Malay traditional villages, I request that the government identify parcel of land for village extension scheme,” he pointed out.