Najib declares open state’s longest bridge
KOTA SAMARAHAN: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak officially opened the RM231 million Batang Sadong bridge at Kampung Buloh near here yesterday.
This 1.48km bridge is the longest to cross a river in Malaysia, but this record is expected to last only a few years as Najib announced that the proposed Batang Lupar bridge will span four to five kilometres. Its construction will start in 2018.
He said the federal government would foot half the cost of RM1 billion to build the bridge across the widest river in the state, and the state government would fi nance the balance.
“This shows that the relationship between the state and federal government is still close when it comes to fulfi lling the needs of the people of Sarawak.”
The Batang Lupar bridge will link Sebuyau and Triso: travellers now have to use a ferry to cross Batang Lupar, which take at least 45 minutes.
The prime minister also said construction of the RM112 million bridge across Batang Samarahan would be completed in early 2018.
This bridge will link Kota Samarahan and Asajaya, and it will cut travelling time between the two places from 40 to 15 minutes.
Najib also announced that construction of the Batang Igan bridge ( RM300 million) and Batang Rambungan bridge (RM130 million) have been approved.
Earlier in his speech, he said the Batang Sadong bridge was completed two weeks ahead of schedule and cost less than projected.
“JKR (Public Works Department) estimated the cost to be RM243 million, but after its completion, the cost was just RM231 million. This mean we are prudent and saved RM12 million.”
He added that the bridge made travelling in the area much faster as it cut out the waiting time for the ferry to cross the river, which could take up to more than two hours during peak periods.
“The beautiful bridge is set to become the pride of Sarawakians. During my walkabout before the 2011 state election, I was moved by the challenges faced by people using the ferry,” he said.
“Although there was no budget for it (bridge) then, I spontaneously approved its construction. “Today, five years later, I stand before you with thankfulness that it is now completed. This shows that one of my promises has been fulfi lled.”
Work on the bridge began in July 2102 and was open to the public on Oct 16 this year.
In his welcoming remarks, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, who represented Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, said Najib’s presence showed that he had the people of Sarawak at heart.
Abang Johari said Sarawakians would repay Najib’s kindness to the state when the time comes.
Among the guests present at the function were State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani; Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, who is also Batang Sadong MP.