By DayakDaily Team
BETONG, April 22: A proposed 3.1-kilometre Bukit Sadok road project will also serve as a key access route to the Rentap Fort Replica, strengthening rural connectivity while supporting the development of history-based tourism in Betong.
In a post shared on Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak social media on Tuesday (April 21), the project was highlighted during a working visit by Deputy Premier and Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas to the proposed road alignment site, where he was briefed on its planning status by divisional engineer Jason Ng Boon Tuan.
According to the briefing, the Bukit Sadok road will be constructed to JKR R1 standards, aimed at improving safety and providing more efficient access for rural communities in the surrounding areas.
The route is also expected to play a strategic role in supporting visitor access to the Rentap Fort Replica, which is currently under development.
The RM16 million construction of the Rentap Fort Replica at Bukit Sadok is expected to be completed by March 28, 2028. The project is a strategic initiative designed to strengthen history-based tourism in Betong while creating new economic opportunities for the local community.
The replica will be built in the style of an old fort, incorporating traditional longhouse design elements alongside modern supporting facilities. It will feature 10 chalets equipped with pantries and bathrooms, a tanju (fortified platform), panggau (guard post), ruai (veranda), tempuan (watchtower), and an information centre.
In addition to the Bukit Sadok project, Uggah was also updated on the progress of the 1.8-kilometre Jambu Krampak–Rantau Layang road, which is being constructed under JKR R1 standards and is currently progressing actively, with completion expected in October 2026.
Once completed, the road will directly benefit several nearby longhouses, including Ijok, Teguyu, Lempaong, Batu Pesok and Rantau Layang, by improving access to essential services and strengthening connectivity to the main road network.
Overall, the infrastructure initiatives are part of ongoing efforts to enhance rural connectivity, unlock agricultural potential in crops such as rubber, oil palm and pepper, and improve the socioeconomic well-being of local communities.
The developments also align with the government’s broader agenda of ensuring inclusive and balanced development between urban and rural areas in Sarawak. — DayakDaily
