Abang Johari (seated, third left) joins his host Buong Toon (fourth left), Leh Ching (fourth right) and Joseph (second left) in a photo-call. Also seen are Dr Annuar (standing front, left), Sharifah Hasidah (seated, second right), Ching Yong (seated, third right), and Dr Soon (seated, left).
SIBU: A feasibility study will be conducted into the road users’ request for the widening of the 1.5km road between the junctions of Deshon Road and Pahlawan Road here to ease traffic congestion.
According to Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health Dr Annuar Rapaee, the study will be conducted by the Public Works Department (JKR) and Sibu Municipal Council (SMC).
“I will ask JKR and SMC to study the feasibility of widening the road there, and also what the budget is. Then, I will propose to the state government.
“The 1.5km road stretching from the traffic junction at Pahlawan Road to the junction at Deshon Road, is always congested,” Dr Annuar, who is Nangka assemblyman told thesundaypost when asked about the purpose of the appeal letter submitted by Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) deputy president II Datuk Chieng Buong Toon to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg during the Chinese New Year gathering at Chieng’s residence here yesterday.
Abang Johari (second right) listens as Buong Toon (right) explains the bottleneck that often occurs at the 1.5km stretch between the junctions of Deshon Road and Pahlawan Road in Sibu. Looking on are (from left) Dr Annuar and Joseph.
Assistant Minister of Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali and Sibu Resident Charles Siaw were among the visiting entourage.
When interviewed later, Buong Toon said he was appealing to the Sarawak government, under the leadership of Abang Johari, to have that 1.5km two-lane stretch widened into a four-lane road to ease the traffic jam during rush hours, namely during working and school days.
“Notably, this stretch leads to four schools – SMK St Elizabeth, SMK Sacred Heart, SJKC Sacred Heart and SK Bandaran No 4 – with a total school-children population of over 5,000.”
According to Buong Toon, Abang Johari would let the relevant departments carry out a study on this request.
Adding on, Buong Toon said many local residents and road users had previously made numerous appeals with regard to this issue, but it seemed that their voices had not been heard.
“That is why we hope the GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak)-led government could do something that is for the good of road users,” he pointed out.
Abang Johari抯 entourage was welcomed by Buong Toon, his wife Datin Wong Leh Ching and their son Joseph.
Political secretary to chief minister Michael Tiang, SUPP Dudong chairman Wong Ching Yong and SUPP Dudong advisor Datuk Dr Soon Choon Teck were also present.