By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Nov 2: The Sarawak government is duty-bound to fund research for constructing better roads on peat soil by the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) Sarawak branch.
Infrastructure and Port Development Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing said some parts of Sarawak are still suffering due to the problem of the high cost of building roads on peat soil.
“We have about 60 per cent of flat land consisting of peat soil in Sarawak, and it is very difficult to build on it.
“That’s why they (IEM Sarawak) are doing research on this issue. I want to give IEM the opportunity to design better roads on peat soils.
“Unless you do that, then we will have problems in constructing roads on peat soil all over Sarawak,” he said.
Masing added that the construction of roads on peat soil require the use of geotextiles meeting international standards, which also explained the huge amount of spending required when developing infrastructure across various terrain in the state.
The Deputy Chief Minister emphasised the importance of this research which will be conducted in the recently operational International Engineering Centre (IntEC) Sarawak here.
“That is why the state government needs to give the necessary facilities (to IEM Sarawak) so research can be done and for them to find out the best possible design,” said Masing when officiating at the opening of the IntEC building at Raintree Square, The Isthmus earlier today. — DayakDaily
