KUCHING – Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas has revealed that over 200 bridges and roads across the state have been identified as requiring immediate repair or replacement.
He said the Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR), in collaboration with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development (MIPD), is leading the project. Areas affected include Baram, Kakus, Skrang, Pelagus, and Murum.
“We have found approximately 200 bridges or routes that we need to repair or rebuild. Currently, 19 bridges have been tendered, and 10 more will follow,” Uggah stated at a press conference held after the handover of a modular steel bridge and the launch of the Senari Port Vehicle Yard on Tuesday.
He added that a 15-hour journey from Miri to Bario exposed the dire condition of a bridge originally constructed by a former logging company, highlighting the urgency of upgrades in remote areas.
To address this, the state government plans to take over both former and active logging roads, converting them into official state roads.
“By converting these roads into state roads, we can carry out proper maintenance. This is one of the final challenges in terms of infrastructure upkeep,” he said.
The National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) also contributed to the initiative by handing over two modular steel bridges to the Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN). These bridges will be installed at Sungai Pelutan, Long Jek, and Sungai Bunau, Jalan Kebangan, both in Baram.
Additionally, the new Vehicle Yard at Senari Port was launched during the ceremony. Spanning 14.64 hectares and costing RM70 million, the facility is expected to accommodate the growing number of RoRo and cargo ships at Kuching Port, especially with new navigation limitations introduced by the completion of the Sejinkat Bridge.
Present at the ceremony were Deputy Ministers of MIPD Datuk Ir Aidel Lariwoo and Dato Majang Renggi, Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department Datuk Gerawat Gala, Tanjong Datu ADUN and Kuching Port Authority Chairman Azizul Annuar Adenan, and senior state officials.
