BINTULU: Jepak residents who will be going to the polls on Nov 4, are all waiting anxiously for the completion of the Bintulu-Jepak Bridge.
The RM467mil bridge is set for completion on Oct 31, 2024. Construction works on the project started on April 3, 2019 and was scheduled for completion in 48 months.
However, the bridge construction stopped due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We are all waiting for the project as it is an important one that will improve the socio-economy of the 30,000 Jepak population," said PBB (Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu) Jepak Youth Wing chief, Mohamad Asraf Mohammaed Tudin.
When met at the Jepak by-election nomination centre at the Civic Centre on Saturday (Oct 21), Asraf said the bridge would make travelling time easier and faster from Jepak to Bintulu city.
"We have been using Jalan Kemena to our place for years. But with the bridge, travelling time will be shortened by between 10 and 15 minutes. From Bintulu Airport, the distance will be reduced greatly from 25km to just 10km," he stressed.
Asraf said Jepak assemblyman, Datuk Talib Zulpilip, 72, who passed away on Sept 15 due to health complications, was also involved in this state-funded project.
"Our Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg wants this bridge completed to spur development in the area," he added.
Asked further on the upcoming by-election, Asraf said Jepak residents want Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to continue governing it.
"We hope the GPS candidate will win the seat so as to continue the work of our late assemblyman. We want Jepak to grow in tandem with the city. In the next 10 years, we hope Jepak will experience vast development under the new assemblyman from GPS," he added.
GPS candidate Iskandar Turkee is involved in a three-cornered fight for the seat with Stevenson Joseph Sumbang (Parti Bumi Kenyalang) and Chieng Lea Ping of Aspirasi.
