RM50 mln project vital link in construction of land access to Kapit, Shafie to request for additional RM78 mln to fill missing links
Artist’s impression of the Sungai Kanowit bridge.
Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal
SIBU: The Sungai Kanowit Road/Bridge project involving the construction of a 2.6 km road from the Jalan Durin/Kanowit junction to Jalan Kanowit/Poi and two bridges crossing Sungai Bungkang and Sungai Kanowit is expected to be completed in June 2017.
This was announced by Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal when he performed the earth breaking ceremony of the RM50 million project which is part of the Kanowit-Song-Kapit Road currently being built in phases.
He said the project was another election promise fulfilled by Barisan Nasional for the people in Kanowit.
“The project involved construction of 2.6km road from Durin/Kanowit Road junction to Kanowit/Poi Road and two bridges crossing Sungai Kanowit, about 350 metres long, and Sungai Bungkang, 40 metres long.
“The people in the surrounding areas can commute easily using the road and bridges when the project is completed,” he said.
Shafie also revealed that he will request from Ministry of Finance additional RM78 million to build the 9.6 kilometre road and a bridge to fill the missing links of the 101-km Kanowit-Song-Kapit Road project.
“State Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communications Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong will submit the request letter personally to the prime minister.
“The missing links are critical because if we do not build them, the Kanowit-Song-Kapit Road will be a waste since we have spent RM716 million for the project,” he said.
He said he was optimistic if the additional budget was approved, the project can be completed by 2017.
On another matter, he said overall, development projects in the state had been implemented smoothly.
“Although there are some 40 delayed projects no contractors have been terminated so far,” he said.
Shafie also gave the assurance that the federal government will continue to implement infrastructure development projects in rural areas especially in Sabah and Sarawak. despite reduction in operational costs in every ministry following the budget restructuring announced by the prime minister recently.
“I am very sure our projects will improve not only people’s communication and standard of living but will empower them economically,” he told a media conference after the earth breaking ceremony.
Later, Shafie who is also Semporna MP officiated at the commissioning of water treatment plant in Machan.
The plant costing RM47.39 million was completed in May 2013 after 15 months of construction.
It has 4 MLD capacity benefitting about 5,533 people from 54 longhouses in Machan and Naman along Kanowit-Julau-Durin Road.
Also present at the function were Manyin, Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi, Assistant Land Development Minister Datuk Gramong Juna, Kanowit MP Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang, Ngemah assemblyman Alexander Vincent, state’s Public Works Department director Juraimi Sabki and secretary-general of Ministry of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Seri Ibrahim Mahmud.