KUCHING, Nov 15: JKR Sarawak is currently managing development projects valued at RM43.488 billion in total under the 11th Malaysia Plan, and extending into the 12th Malaysia Plan.
Director of Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak Datu Zuraimi Sabki said that JKR has completed a total of 968 development projects with value of more than RM18 billion, at an average of RM1.8 billion annually.
He revealed this is almost double the value of projects before the Rural Transformation Project.
“Rural Transformation Project implementation by the Divisional Engineers (DE) has reached RM695 million in total project value since the last 5 years.”
He added JKR Sarawak is facing far greater challenges ahead with the Pan Borneo Highway project to be handled directly by JKR Sarawak, the Coastal Road and Second Trunk Road projects and the Border Security Road Network Programme.
“These projects are estimated to be worth more than RM50 billion, as well as many other development projects that are to be delivered by JKR in the years beyond 2030,” noted Zuraimi, when delivering his speech during the 21st JKR Sarawak Divisional Engineers Conference Dinner held at a hotel here yesterday.
Meanwhile Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development Datuk Julaihi Narawi highlighted the Coastal Road Network and Second Trunk Road project would greatly benefit Sarawakian and also boost the state’s economy.
The two mega projects worth RM11 billion, are commissioned by the Sarawak government and will be completed in 5 years’ time.
“These are designed to connect Sarawak’s major towns along the coastal areas, such as Kuching, Kota Samarahan, Betong, Sarikei, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu and Miri, and benefitting 1.9 million people of Sarawak,” he disclosed in his speech.
Julaihi also noted that the projects will also boost socio-economic growth along these areas by increasing connectivity and providing safer and more convenient accessibility from major towns to rural areas of the state.
He noted apart from that, in order to complete the Sarawak Coastal Road, the Sarawak government has approved the other proposed projects, such as the Bako/Buntal Road inclusive of bridge construction crossing Sungai Buntal, Kuching; and the road from Sungai Limbang bridge to Kampung Pendam, Limbang.
“As for the Second Trunk Road, the package for Batang Lupar Bridge 2 is currently under the final stage of tender evaluation and the remaining ten (10) packages are still in tender documentation preparation stage,” he added. — DayakDaily
