By Karen Bong
MIRI, July 11: Difficult accessibility to Marudi will be a thing of the past with the upcoming Marudi Bridge set for completion by end of this year and construction on a proposed road connecting to Long Terawan, costing nearly RM2 billion, set to commence next year.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg emphasised that with the Marudi Bridge, travel between Miri and Marudi will take only 30 minutes.
“We will also build a road connecting Marudi all the way to Long Terawan near Mulu, which is expected to commence next year.
“The road construction will not encroach into the Unesco heritage site where Mulu National Park is located but will be outside and connected to Gunung Buda in Limbang,” he said during the SJK(C) Chiaw Nan inauguration ceremony at the school premises at Taman Tunku which was streamed live via Ukas Channel today.
As of July 2, the Marudi Bridge project is 10 per cent ahead of schedule and will have its final connection in the middle part completed in August. Originally slated for completion in June 2025, the previously ‘sick’ project has made remarkable progress under the stewardship of Pekerjaan Piasau Konkerit (PPK) Sdn Bhd, the rescue contractor appointed after the termination of the previous contractor.
Giving his commitment to work hard to seek more funding for Sarawak, Abang Johari highlighted that Sarawak is doing well, with over RM13 billion in revenue last year.
“I believe Sarawak’s revenue will be better than last year. So we must be united and join hands in developing Sarawak,” he said.
Abang Johari also called for the conservation and preservation of Sarawak’s vast forests, which are crucial for carbon storage and trading in the region’s new economic transformation journey.
“As we plan ahead, Sarawakians must continue to safeguard our unity; otherwise, others will take advantage and take our resources,” he said.
Expressing pride in Sarawak’s culture of mutual respect regardless of race or culture, he added: “That’s why Sarawak has no problem with extreme views. Those who are extreme, don’t come to Sarawak because this is a harmonious and peaceful place.”
With a harmonious landscape, he emphasised, Sarawak can focus on development to advance forward.
Noting Sarawak’s recognition from the World Bank as a high-income economy for two consecutive years, Abang Johari however stressed the need to elevate household income, especially in rural areas.
“We want their household income to increase along with our rapid development, and this also requires knowledge such as modernising agriculture by embracing technology. These are our priorities,” he added.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development Datuk Ripin Lamat, Deputy Minister of Woman and Childhood Development Datuk Rosey Yunus and organising committee chairman-cum-school board deputy chairman Dato Hii King Chiong were also present. — DayakDaily
