KUCHING – Residents and road users in Samariang are expected to benefit from improved traffic flow and road safety following the completion of the Tan Sri Abang Ikhwan Zaini Road Upgrading Project on 31 July 2026.
The project forms part of ongoing infrastructure development in the Samariang State Constituency, where road improvements and public amenities are being implemented to support local communities. The completed works were highlighted during an officiating ceremony held in Kuching on Friday.
Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali said the upgraded road represented continued efforts to improve public infrastructure and provide more convenient travel for residents.
She said the changes were particularly noticeable to those who had waited for the project to be completed, adding that cooperation among the parties involved had helped bring the improvements to fruition.
“Previously, we always anticipated when this project would be completed, but ultimately, with patience and the effort of all parties, we can see for ourselves the very significant change on this road,” she said.
The upgrading works included widening the existing road into a dual carriageway, with separate lanes serving traffic in each direction. The design is intended to increase road capacity and improve the movement of vehicles along the route.
Drainage infrastructure was also installed as part of the project to support stormwater management. The work further covered road construction and resurfacing, as well as completion of the traffic light junction at Jalan Cenderawasih to help regulate vehicle movements and support safer traffic conditions.
The completion of the project marks a further step in the development of public infrastructure within Samariang. The effectiveness of the improvements will also depend on responsible road use, appropriate maintenance and cooperation among road users and the relevant authorities.
Beyond road infrastructure, Sharifah Hasidah said development initiatives in the constituency also covered recreational facilities, community amenities and religious infrastructure.
These included futsal courts, community facilities, and the upgrading or construction of mosques and suraus under various development initiatives, including the Rural Transformation Programme (RTP).
She also reported that the Taman Sukma Hall project had been completed and was awaiting its officiating ceremony. The facility is among the community infrastructure projects intended to provide residents with additional space for local activities and gatherings.
Another planned initiative is the Village Expansion Scheme in Kampung Samariang Batu, which is expected to provide more than 100 residential lots. The proposed development is intended to expand residential opportunities in the village, although further implementation details were not provided at the ceremony.
Sharifah Hasidah called on residents to take shared responsibility for maintaining public facilities and ensuring that the surrounding environment remained clean and safe. She also urged the community to work with the authorities on efforts to relocate small traders to more suitable hawking locations, with the aim of improving the organisation of trading activities.
She acknowledged the Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) for its commitment to carrying out development projects in the constituency. The local authority has been involved in implementing public infrastructure and amenity improvements in the area.
Among those attending the ceremony were DBKU Mayor Dato Hilmy Othman, Deputy EXCO Chairman of the Samariang Constituency and DBKU Board Member Abdul Baderi Sahmat, DBKU Board Member Iskandar Sharkawi, and DBKU Director Ramzi Abdillah. Local community leaders and village chiefs, known as KMKK, were also present.
With the road project now completed, attention will turn to the continued maintenance of the upgraded route and the implementation of other planned facilities. The projects form part of broader development efforts in Samariang, with their long-term benefits depending on effective upkeep, safe road use and coordination between the authorities and the local community. â Sarawak Daily
