By Shikin Louis
BAU, March 15: The bustling border town of Serikin is set for major infrastructure improvements as part of plans to support the upcoming Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security (ICQS) complex, which is expected to be completed within two years.
Tasik Biru assemblyman Dato Henry Harry Jinep revealed that the project will include the construction of a bypass road and a dual carriageway connecting Serikin to Bau, aimed at easing traffic congestion and enhancing road safety.
“The ICQS will be tendered this year and is expected to be completed within two years. Once operational, vehicles from neighbouring countries will enter through the ICQS.
“To prevent traffic from passing through the village, a bypass road will be constructed from the ICQS to the nearby bridge,” he told reporters during a visit to Kampung Serikin today.
In addition, he revealed plans to build a dual carriageway road stretching over 20 kilometres from the proposed bypass road up to Bau, with an estimated cost exceeding half a billion ringgit.
On the impact to local businesses, Henry who is also Deputy Minister of Transport (Maritime and Riverine) assured that the popular roadside trading activities in Serikin will be preserved but with improved safety and cleanliness measures.
“We will establish a more secure and controlled trading area to ensure that the daily lives of villagers are not disrupted. This will allow better oversight from authorities like immigration and the police,” he explained.
The development will be carried out in stages, starting with the ICQS, followed by the bypass and the dual carriageway.
“Our priority is the ICQS. Once that is in place, we will proceed step by step,” Henry added. – DayakDaily
