RM77.4 million approved by state cabinet for project to be launched by CM
Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom
KUCHING: Commuters travelling along Miri-Marudi road will soon be able to travel with peace of mind as the 43.2km stretch will be upgraded with immediate effect.
The state Cabinet at its meeting yesterday approved RM77.4 million to upgrade the road. Its implementation will be launched by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem at a later date.
Announcing the cabinet’s decision at his office yesterday, Minister of Social Development Tan Sri William Mawan said the issue of bad road condition was brought up during the meeting by Marudi assemblyman Datuk Sylvester Entri who is also Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Water Supply).
“The Cabinet supported his request to undertake the upgrading of the road with immediate effect. Today (yesterday), I am pleased to announce that the state Cabinet has approved the appointment of the concessionaire, CMS, to undertake the upgrading work of the Miri-Marudi road costing RM77.4 million to be funded under MARRIS (Malaysian Road Record and Information System) fund,” Mawan said.
Mawan said the stretch of road, which was built under the Jiwa Murni programme, had been in a bad state due to heavy rain and overloading of heavy vehicles.
“We are not saying that the road is not good enough but the standard was not meant to cater for heavy vehicles,” he said
He said with approval by the state Cabinet it is hoped that whatever issues, complaints and grouses from the public and any quarters could be put to rest and that it should not be politically exploited by certain quarters any further.
Mawan, who is Pakan assemblyman and Saratok MP, said that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi would be visiting the area today and that he (Mawan) was tasked by the state Cabinet to accompany the federal leader throughout the visit.
Besides Miri-Marudi road, he said the Cabinet also approved the upgrading of Saeh road in Niah which was brought up by Bekenu assemblywoman Rosey Yunus who is also Assistant Minister of Early Childhood Education and Family Development.
Assistant Minister of Community Services Datuk Peter Nansian, Rosey and Entri were also present at the news conference yesterday.