SEBUYAU, July 9 2026: Batangt Lupar No. 1 bridge was officially declared opened today, recognised by the Malaysian Book of Records as the longest bridge spanning over a river ever to be built in the country.
Premier Abang Johari Openg declared the RM849 million bridge in the presence, among others, Deputy Premier and Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development Douglas Uggah, Deputy Premier and Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Dr Sim Kui Hian, Speaker Asfia Awang Nasar, Food Industries, Commodities and Regional Development Minister Dr Stephen Rundie Utom and Utilities and Telecommunication Minister and Sebuyau State Legislative Member Julaihi Narawi.
Batang Lupar No. 1 is a two-lane, one-way bridge spanning the Batang Lupar River , connecting Sebuyau with Triso.
With a total length of 4.884km , the bridge was built to the state Public Works Department R5 standards and is supported by 87 bridge piers.
The bridge was officially opened to the public on May 21, 2026 at 4pm, completely replacing the previously operating Batang Lupar ferry service and seamlessly connecting the Coastal Corridor.
The construction of the bridge is a key component of the Coastal Roads Network and the Second Major Road Plan by the State government which aims to drive socio-economic and commercial activities in the coastal area.
The ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the bridge was held on March 21 2021.
Batang Lupar No.1 bridge was one of the three major bridge projects cancelled by the Pakatan Harapan federal government.
The state government took over the funding from the federal government as its significance and importance to Sarawak was beyond politics.
Speaking to reporters later, the premier said the construction of the bridge was at the request of the local communities and Julaihi as well as the then Batang Lupar Member of Parliament Rohani Karim.
He said the construction was approved by the then Prime Minister Najib Razak and the then Chief Minister the late Adenan Satem in 2018.
“After the defeat of the Barisan Nasional government, the new federal government of Pakatan Harapan led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Finance Ministe Lim Guan Eng and Works Minister Baru Bian decided that there was no need to build the bridge.
“They said the funds for the bridge was needed for the Sabah-Sarawak Link Road.
“Gabungan Parti Sarawak, at that time, was an opposition coalition at the federal level,” he said, adding that it was difficult for the federal government to continue with the bridge project.
Abang Johari said, he as the leader of the state government and other state leaders, decided they must find solution so the bridge’s construction could proceed.
No comments:
Post a Comment