By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Oct 19: All upcoming major bridges in Sarawak will be toll-free, in line with the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem’s declaration that Sarawak would not impose tolls, as adding ‘ol’ to the word toll results in ‘tolol’, which means ‘dumb’ or ‘foolish’ in English.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg assured that these bridges, which will improve connectivity and shorten travel times, were previously cancelled by the former federal government but have been taken up by the Sarawak government using its own funds.
“The projects are currently in various stages of implementation and are on track to be completed according to their respective timelines.
“Infrastructure, including roads, water, and electricity supplies and telecommunications, is a crucial part of Sarawak’s development agenda,” he said during the Sarawak Agenda town hall, part of the annual Lan Berambeh event held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur today.
The event, broadcast live on the Ukas Channel, saw Abang Johari addressing Sarawakian sons and daughters, urging them to observe the bridges being constructed when they return home.
“Some projects are still ongoing, while others are nearing completion,” he added.
Notable bridges to be completed by the end of this year include the Marudi Bridge, which will connect to Miri at a cost of RM116.5 million, and the Kemena Bridge, linking Bintulu and Jepak, costing RM467 million.
“For those from Bintulu, your bridge is just like the San Francisco Bridge, and without tolls,” he quipped, drawing cheers and applause from the audience.
Under Abang Johari’s leadership, Sarawak is experiencing a historic transformation with the construction of 12 groundbreaking bridges costing RM4 billion.
Among them is the 4.8-kilometre Batang Lupar Bridge, set to become the longest river-crossing bridge in Malaysia, with a price tag of RM848 million, aiming for completion in 2025.
“These bridges will be toll-free once completed, allowing people to travel across Sarawak without paying tolls. Unlike in Peninsular Malaysia, where motorists are charged, Sarawak does not impose tolls on its people,” he affirmed.
In addition, Abang Johari emphasised the Sarawak government’s commitment to upgrading Sarawak’s ageing water supply infrastructure, which requires an allocation of RM1.03 billion.
“We are replacing old, leaking pipes and equipping the system with artificial intelligence (AI) technology to allow real-time monitoring,” he added. — DayakDaily
