By DayakDaily Team
TANJUNG MANIS, Oct 8: More than 12,000 residents across 14 settlements on Pulau Bruit are a step closer to direct road connectivity with mainland Sarawak as the 1.9km Batang Paloh Bridge enters its final stage.
The bridge reached a major milestone today with the connection of its final span, bringing to fruition a long-awaited link for the island community and paving the way for the eventual end of its reliance on ferry services.
According to a TVS report, Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Corporate Affairs, Information and UKAS) Datuk Abdullah Saidol described the milestone as being “like winning the World Cup”, given the significance of the project to Pulau Bruit residents.
“There are no better words I can express other than gratitude,” he was quoted as saying when met at the Batang Paloh Bridge stitching ceremony here today.
The ceremony was officiated by Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development Sarawak (Infrastructure Development) Datuk Aidel Lariwoo.
The Batang Paloh Bridge, together with the 2.4km Muara Lassa Bridge, forms the crucial road connection linking Pulau Bruit to mainland Sarawak.
The two bridges, costing more than RM900 million, are expected to shorten travel time and improve access to economic opportunities for communities whose livelihoods depend heavily on fishing and agriculture.
Abdullah said the Batang Paloh project had faced nearly two years of delays following two incidents in which barges struck bridge pillars during construction.
He said swift action and continuous monitoring by the Public Works Department (JKR) had enabled the project to progress to its final stage despite the setbacks.
Abdullah also highlighted the Sarawak government’s investment of more than RM11 billion in its own funds to develop the approximately 900km Coastal Highway and 230km Second Trunk Road.
He described the two road networks as the “nervous system” connecting areas across Sarawak, saying they would have a major impact on infrastructure development and access to basic amenities, particularly in rural areas.
The Coastal Highway network, stretching more than 900km from southern to northern Sarawak, also involves the construction of 21 major bridges, he said.
Abdullah said the proposal for the coastal route, including bridges such as Batang Paloh, had been raised in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly as early as 2015 when he was chairman of the Government Backbenchers’ Club, together with coastal-area elected representatives.
Meanwhile, four new bridges costing about RM20 million are being built to connect several villages in northern Pulau Bruit.
More than RM50 million has also been spent over the past decade to upgrade village and longhouse roads in the Semop constituency, he said.
Abdullah added that further development was planned in the area, including a commercial centre, community hall and places of worship.
He also expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development Sarawak (MIPD), led by Deputy Premier Sarawak Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, as well as ferry workers who had served the island community with patience and dedication over the years. — DayakDaily
