This stretch from the Sebuyau junction leads to Batang Lupar ferry service point.
KUCHING: The Coastal Road Project (CRP) – set to inter-connect 60 per cent of Sarawak’s population living in coastal towns and villages between Sibu, Sarikei and Kuching such as Meludam, Kabong, Sebangan, Sebuyau and Mukah – is a highly-anticipated project.
This connectivity programme will be a cost-saving initiative for motorists travelling along the coastal belt of the state, especially the people living there, and will reduce the logistics expenses for farmers, fishermen and those involved in industries in the area.
The roads will also drastically cut down travelling time and fuel expenses of government departments serving the towns and settlements along the coast.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing, who is also Minister of Infrastructure Development and Transportation, sees the importance of this connectivity in bringing about socio-economic development and as such, fully supports the implementation of the project.
Towards this end, the CRP was approved early last year, which was followed by a road trip to assess the situation on the ground by a Masing-led government study group comprising Assistant Minister of Water Supply Liwan Lagang (he was the Assistant Minister of River Transportation and Safety then), Pelagus assemblyman Wilson Nyabong Ijang, Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Transportation permanent secretary Safri Zainudin, state Public Works Department (JKR) acting director Junaidi Shahdan, and media personnel.
However with no indication of the commencement of works one-and-a-half years after the approval of the project, those living in the coastal towns are getting impatient – they all want to know the cause of the delay.
The Borneo Post went to the ground recently to talk to some villagers and obtain their feedback on the subject. Those interviewed expressed their hope for the project to be implemented without further delay, with a few beginning to wonder if it would ever take off.
Abu Seman Suhaili
According to Abu Seman Suhaili, the headman of Kampung Hulu Sebuyau in the coastal sub-district of Sebuyau, the people are now asking about the project.
“Like myself, the people are now asking whether the project would be carried out or not. We are hoping that the state government would continue with the project, which would benefit those living in coastal areas. The coastal road would make it easy for us to market our agricultural produce and also to travel,” he said.
Another village chief, Matasan Bujang of Kampung Sampat Sebangan, concurred.
“It would benefit us both greatly in terms of selling our agricultural produce and travelling.”
Meanwhile, local community leader Penghulu Merum Babu was hopeful that the coastal link would be built soon. However, he was also grateful that there had been some improvements on existing roads linking the villages across his area.
According to him, the stretches leading to Sebangan and Sebuyau are being upgraded and the road surface has been enhanced significantly.
“Some parts of the roads are being upgraded – I believe more stretches would undergo upgrading too.”
Photo shows a stall selling fish and other food items by the roadside at Asajaya. Asajaya is among the towns that would benefit greatly from the proposed coastal road development.
Still, he said there is still much to be done as upgrading is only a partial and temporary solution to the connectivity woes faced by the coastal folk. Back on the CRP, Merum concurred with Abu Seman and Matasan about the urgency for the project to be implemented soon.
“I hope that the project would be built without further delay.”
When contacted and asked about the progress of the CRP and the sentiments of the people, Masing replied: “MIDT (Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Transportation) and JKR are processing the documents so that the LoA (letter of authority) and construction of the said roads could be done in a manner that is proper and not subject to audit queries later on.”
Road upgrading works in progress
The minister, however, had yet to respond when pressed whether the CRP would to be implemented in tandem with the newly-proposed second trunk road project and, if so, the reason behind the two projects (CRP and second trunk road) taking off simultaneously.
Sources have revealed that the CRP would be implemented on a build-and-pay-after-completion agreement, which would ensure that the project would be delivered successfully, in that the state government would only pay the contractor upon the completion of works.
However, it is believed that the construction of the second trunk road – expected to cost around RM6 billion – would not adopt the same terms and condition; it is said to be on the traditional progress-payment agreement.