Abang Johari (on the platform fifth from right) with Uggah on his left at the groundbreaking ceremony for Jalan Teku-Pasai Siong.
Sarawak is using the building industry modelling method to build roads on peat soil, to save on maintenance costs.
According to Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg, the method will first be used for the planned Jalan Teku-Pasai Siong in Sibu.
“I urged Public Works Department (JKR) to use new technology for building roads in peat swamp areas.
“If we don’t, the road will collapse in three years and the maintenance cost will also be high,” he said at the ground-breaking ceremony for the road.
He anticipated that the RM89mil project would open up the Kemuyang area with its population of 1,544 people.
The road provides a shorter route for Kemuyang folk to travel to Sibu town.
It reduces travel time from 36 minutes (28.4km) to seven minutes (6.2km) from Jalan Teku-Pasai Siong to Desa Kemuyang.
Separately, Abang Johari said experts needed to be engaged to redevelop Sibu as the area had been plagued by frequent flooding.
“Kemuyang is a new area under the new Sibu Master Development Plan.
“If it rains, there will be flooding, so we must have a long-term solution.
“We need experts to do this in the redevelopment of Sibu.”
Abang Johari noted that new areas must also be opened up to overcome congestion.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said Sarawak government had approved 17 road projects worth RM826mil in the 12th Malaysia Plan.
“JKR has completed three projects worth RM156mil and another is under construction.
“Tenders for the remaining 13 projects worth RM570mil will be issued this year,” he added.
Additionally, Uggah said Sibu had seen 719 projects valued at RM159mil under the Rural Transformation Project (RTP).
Of those projects, 544 were completed, 31 were under construction and 144 in the tender preparation stage, he added.
