By Dayangku Hidayatul
KUCHING, Dec 20: Sarawak is adopting a new approach for building roads on soft soil using elevated structures to improve stability and support sustainable development.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said he has requested Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR) director Datu Cassidy Morris and the Ministry of Infrastructure to change the way roads are constructed.
“We don’t build roads directly on the surface of soft soil anymore. If you go along the road to Samarahan, even with geotextiles, after five or six years, the road comes back ‘macam gelombang’ (like a wave) because it is not stable. Now I have requested a different approach,” he said.
He said this while attending the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) Sarawak Branch Annual Dinner 2025 held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) last night (Dec 19).
He further said that by building elevated roads, Sarawak can avoid disturbing the soil, allowing it to act as a carbon storage area and generate carbon credits.
“This is something new for Sarawak, and we are going to do that,” he said.
Abang Johari also highlighted Sarawak’s strength in renewable energy, with 70 per cent hydro and 30 per cent low-carbon methane and is also exploring alternative energy from soil.
He further said Sarawak is also exploring biomass and waste-to-energy initiatives as part of a circular economy approach.
“In other words, the circular economy can be part of our system in developing Sarawak,” he said. — DayakDaily
