By Shikin Louis
BAU, Aug 9: The RM43 million Serikin Integrated Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) project has reached 7.28 per cent completion and remains on track for its scheduled completion in December 2027, says Deputy Minister of Transport Sarawak (Riverine and Marine) Datuk Henry Harry Jinep.
He said the project had progressed well since the site was handed over to the contractor in December last year, with major earthworks currently forming the bulk of construction activities.
“So far, since December, since the site handover, they have progressed to about 7 per cent. I think they have progressed very well,” he told reporters after a site visit to the project today.
Henry said the project was expected to be completed within its two-year construction period if favourable weather conditions continued.
“The major work now is earthwork. There is so much volume to be cut and filled, so after that only can they start with the building.
“But if we continue to have good weather, I think we have confidence that they can finish within two years. That is our expectation,” he said.
He said the timely completion of the project was important as the Indonesian side of the border facility had already been completed and was waiting for the Malaysian side.
“Because Indonesia has been completed for quite a long time, they are waiting for us. So we have to deliver, and I have to monitor the project regularly,” he said.
Henry, who is also Tasik Biru assemblyman, further said the completed ICQS would eventually allow the Serikin-Jagoi Babang border crossing to operate using normal passports, including enabling vehicles to travel across the border.
At present, he said, border movement was restricted to those using temporary border passes, with people from Bau allowed to travel only as far as Seluas in Indonesia, while those from Indonesia could travel only up to Bau.
“They cannot go beyond that. So, they are not using passports yet,” he said.
Henry said the eventual opening of the full border crossing would have significant implications for Bau, particularly in tourism, socio-economic development, movement of people and cross-border trade.
“Bau is going to be a new transit town from Serikin, on the way to the Indonesian border. So we expect this is something that we are looking forward to in terms of tourism, socio-economic development, and also the movement of people and trade,” he said.
Meanwhile, Public Works Department (JKR) Kuching Divisional Engineer Wang Say Kwang, who is also the superintending officer for the project, said the project had recorded 7.28 per cent actual progress against scheduled progress of 6.84 per cent, putting it 0.44 percentage points ahead of schedule.
He said the project, known as the construction of the Serikin Immigration Post and Quarters, was handed over to the contractor on Dec 10 last year and is scheduled for completion on Dec 9, 2027, under a 24-month construction period.
Wang said the project involved major earthworks, with about 203,000 cubic metres of soil to be cut and filled.
Part of the excavated soil would be reused for backfilling, while part of the existing hill at the site would be levelled to create the platform for the buildings.
The project comprises a main building, surau, canteen cum toilet, four Class G quarters, two guardhouses, a mechanical and electrical building, pump house, bin centre and other supporting facilities.
External works include a temporary access road, approach road, car park and interceptor, among others.
Wang said an existing river was also being diverted as part of the project, involving the construction of a large box culvert.
He said the JKR was satisfied with the contractor’s performance so far, with sufficient manpower and machinery deployed at the site.
“The contractor is promising in terms of the execution of the work. So far, progress is okay, manpower is sufficient, machinery is sufficient and they are ahead of schedule,” he said.
The project had received a morale boost from the visit by Perak Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Saarani Mohamad to the site today.
On funding, Henry said the federal government had allocated RM50 million for the project, with RM43 million earmarked for construction.
He said Sarawak JKR had been appointed as the implementing agency for the federal project, as the project value was below RM50 million.
The State government would separately undertake utilities such as water, electricity and internet, while road works would also be covered under a separate contract.
Once completed, the Serikin ICQS is expected to strengthen cross-border connectivity between Sarawak and West Kalimantan, while supporting greater movement of people, vehicles and goods. — DayakDaily
