Abdul Rahman (third left) presenting a memento to Abang Johari after the earth-breaking of the housing project, witnessed by (from left) Daud, Fadillah and Abdul Karim.
KUCHING: The proposed bridge project in Rambungan, set to provide an alternative route for those travelling between here, Lundu and Sematan, has been approved.
Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said the government planned the construction of the bridge across Sungai Sempadi to replace the ferry service there.
He said the project would not only help reduce traveling time for the folk from Lundu and Sematan going to the city and vice-versa, but would also aid in spurring the development across the Matang-Serapi area.
“The Matang-Serapi area has great potential, especially after the commissioning of the Rambungan bridge linking Lundu and Sematan with Kuching city. The potential covers not only residential development, but also other economic activities as well – all of which could help improve the people’s well-being,” he said after an earth-breaking ceremony for Sungai Tengah People’s Affordable Housing Programme (PPR) near here yesterday.
Works Minister Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof, who was also present at the function, announced the approval of the proposed bridge project.
However, other details such as a proposed implementation date, cost and expected completion were not disclosed.
Earlier, Abang Johari said to implement a project such as this would require a holistic master plan that could only be done when the infrastructure, particularly the communication system, was already in place.
In this respect, he suggested that Fadillah – in his capacity as a federal minister – could check on what needed to be done for Sarawakians and then bring the matter to the attention of the federal government.
On Sungai Tengah PPR, Abang Johari said it was evidence of the government’s seriousness and consistency in ensuring that everyone could own and live in a decent home.
“This is the policy of our Barisan Nasional (BN) government. We feel so blessed that we, in Sarawak, have a very cordial relationship with federal leaders and therefore, such good relationship has to be maintained in order to bring greater progress for the people.”
He stated that many projects, including housing and other developments, had been planned and approved for the state.
However, he admitted that some implementations were still half-way, a few had yet to take off while several others were still at planning stage.
“Still, it is vital that the people would continue supporting the present government; lest there be problems in implementing the projects according to schedule.
“It is our hope that the people would continue supporting the BN government and ensure that it would return to power come the next state election, which must be held the latest by June next year,” Abang Johari said.
The earth-breaking of Sungai Tengah PPR was also attended by Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, Assistant Minister of Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and Assistant Minister in Chief Minister’s Office (Infrastructure Development) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman.