By Doreen Ling
KUCHING, May 17: The RM321 million Batang Rajang Bridge has been renamed the Tun Datuk Patinggi Tuanku Haji Bujang Tuanku Haji Othman Bridge.
Speaking during the officiation ceremony of the 1.4km-long bridge and its connecting Pasi-Sibu/Tanjung Manis Road in Sarikei today, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said this was to honour the late Head of State for his many contributions to the State’s politics and development.
“He is remembered for his legacy in Sarawak’s history and commitment to unity and economic development, as well as someone who is respected for his contributions to Sarawak and the country,” he said.
Uggah said that Tuanku Bujang was born in Sibu and has served as the second Head of State from 1969 to 1977.
He started his career in the Sarawak Civil Service in 1934. After retiring, he played an integral role in the State’s political landscape, which included the formation of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB)—the State’s ruling party.
Uggah said that Tuanku Bujang’s contributions in fostering unity and driving economic development in the Central Region made the naming of the bridge fitting and appropriate.
Meanwhile, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg expressed appreciation for the respect given to his late father-in-law and even quipped that he wasn’t the one who influenced the name change.
“I don’t dare to ‘masuk campur’ (interfere) because he was my father-in-law, later people will say it was me,” he said with a smile.
Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak and Sebuyau assemblyman Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi; Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration, and Environment Sarawak and Kuala Rajang assemblyman, Datuk Len Talif Salleh; and Sarawak Secretary, Dato Sri Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, were also present at the event.
According to the Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR), the bridge, along with the 17km Pasi-Sibu/Tanjung Manis Road, will shorten the distance between Sarikei and Tanjung Manis from 22km to 53km with a drastically reduced travel time of only 45 minutes compared to the previous two hours and 30 minutes.
The distance between Bintangor and Tanjung Manis is also shortened to 60 minutes, which is half of the original distance.
The soft launching of the bridge was done on March 27 this year, before Hari Raya Aidilfitri, by Uggah.— DayakDaily
