By Chris Bishop and Adrian Lim
SEBUYAU, Mar 23: All bridges crossing the rivers in Sarawak will be toll free while the ferry services in Sarawak will cease to operate when the bridges are completed.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg assured that there will be no toll imposed on vehicles and motorists crossing the bridges in the state.
He also revealed that ferry services in the state will no longer be in operation once the construction of all the 11 bridges crossing rivers in Sarawak are completed by 2026.
“There is no toll on all the bridges in Sarawak.
“But, in Peninsular Malaysia, there are toll on all the bridges.
“(In the future), no more ferry and no more toll.
“That is what GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) has fulfilled,” he said during a press conference after launching the earth breaking for the Batang Lupar bridge here today.
Earlier in his speech, Abang Johari said he continued to honour the works of former Chief Minister the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem to ensure that no toll is charged for all the bridges in the state.
That, he said, was to enable Sarawakians to live a better and prosperous life.
In the meantime, the Sarawak government is funding the construction of nine bridges across the state which include Batang Rambungan bridge, Batang Lupar 1 bridge, Batang Lupar 2 bridge, Batang Saribas bridge, Sungai Krian bridge, Batang Paloh bridge, Muara Lassa bridge, Batang Igan bridge and Jepak bridge.
On another note, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Ports Development Datuk Julaihi Narawi said currently, RM1 is imposed on vehicles using the ferry services.
He revealed that there are 12 ferry points across major river crossings in the state of which seven are in the coastal areas.
Julaihi also said the state government has allocated a total of RM78 million a year to subsidise the 12 ferry services of which RM66 million are for the seven coastal ferries.
Among those present at the earthbreaking ceremony were Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri James Masing, Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Datuk Amar Michael Manyin, Assistant Minister of Infrastructure and Ports Development Datuk Julaihi Narawi, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Batang Lupar MP Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim. — DayakDaily
