KUCHING, July 12 — A trunk road from hell has become a thorn on the side of the Sarawak government.
This follows numerous fatal accidents at the road which stretches across Miri, Bintulu, Sibu and Sri Aman.
As such, the state government is in urgent need of written approval from the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) of the Prime Minister’s Department to upgrade the road.
Little wonder, why the stretch has been dubbed by locals as the ‘Trunk Road of Death’!
State infrastructure development and communications minister Datuk Seri Michael Manyin said he met Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof recently, to explain the need to expedite the matter.
He said the upgrading project was considered a priority, in view of the danger posed by the stretch.
“On the part of the Barisan Nasional (BN) goverment, we are very committed to improve the road, which is also the dream of all Sarawakians to have dual carriageway to shorten the travelling time and distance,” he said. Manyin was speaking to reporters today, after opening the world’s largest floating book fair on board the MV Logos Hope berthed at the Sim Kheng Hong Port here until Aug 1, this year.
He said the state government would be calling for tenders, once its submission of costs for the continuation of the project, which was included in the BN’s 13th General Election manifesto, was approved.
Meanwhile, Manyin expressed confidence that the 33km-long missing link between Kapit and Kanowit to provide road connectivity from Kapit to Sibu - to be built at a cost of RM480 million - would be completed in three years’ time.
“Once the road is completed, everyone will be thrilled to drive all the way from Kapit to Kanowit, which is only 101km, and use less of the express boats,” he said, in an obvious reference to the ‘Kawan Mas’ express boat accident in the Rajang River near Giam Bungan, near Belaga last May 28. – Bernama
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