James Masing speaks on the proposed Second Trunk Road which is now suddenly being questioned by PSB leaders

Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development Tan Sri Dr James Masing in his winding up speech in the Sarawak State Assembly on May 8, 2019

Second Trunk Road Project 

Tuan Speaker, the Second Trunk Road serves to provide shorter alternative routes to Pan

Borneo Highway and the Coastal Road Network.

Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing in his winding up speech in the DUN

The first section of the Second Trunk Road is from Kota Samarahan to Roban, which is

approximately 112km of single carriageway JKR R5 two-lane highway.

The last section which is approximately 30km, includes the upgrading of the existing Jalan Kelupu/Jalan Tanjung Genting /Lanang Bridge, Sibu from two lanes to four lanes JKR R5 highway. The Sebuyau/Lingga/Sri Aman/Betong Expressway is approximately 94km of single carriageway JKR R5 two-lane highway.

Currently, the project is under design and it is expected to be tendered within the fourth quarter of this year.

Tuan Speaker, the Sarawak Coastal Road Network will be connected seamlessly between

towns such as Kota Samarahan, Asajaya, Sadong Jaya, Sebuyau, Kabong, Tanjung Manis, Daro,

Matu, Igan, Oya, Mukah, Balingian, Bintulu and Miri to the Pan Borneo Highway while the Second

Trunk Road will link Kuching-Sibu with the Pan Borneo Highway through Jalan Sebuyau-Sri Aman-Betong.

The aspiration of the Sarawak Government on the need for greater connectivity since

independence will become a reality once all these projects are successfully completed within the

period of five years.

Not only does it enhance greater connectivity, it also bring substantial socio

economic development, particularly in the agriculture sector and opening up of new areas for

development.

Tan Sri Dr James Masing in his winding up speech in the Sarawak State Assembly on November 13, 2019

Second Trunk Road project

25. The Second Trunk Road provides an alternative road to the Coastal Road Sarawak and the Pan Borneo Highway. This alternative road will be able to improve our mobility as it is able to shorten our travelling time and distance from Kuching to Simanggang, Betong and Sibu.

The implementation of the Second Trunk Road is divided into three packages as follows:

(i) Package A comprises 5 sub-packages from Kota Samarahan to Roban which is approximately 112km of single carriageway JKR R5 2-lane highway;

(ii) Package B that is the Sebuyau/Lingga/Simanggang/Betong Expressway comprises 4 sub-packages which is approximately 94km of single carriageway JKR R5 2-lane highway; and

(iii) Package C comprises 2 sub-packages which is approximately 30km includes the upgrading of the existing Jalan Kelupu/Jalan Tanjung Genting/Lanang Bridge, Sibu from two (2) lanes to four (4) lanes JKR R5 highway.

26. All these 11 sub-packages are expected to be tendered out by early next year.

Tuan Speaker,

27. With the completion of these mega projects, the connectivity between towns, longhouses and kampungs in Sarawak will be seamless and the Rakyat would be able to enjoy and experience driving along the long-awaited road network where travelling time between these places will be shortened and there will be savings in the fuel consumption.

28. In addition, reliable road network would be able to enhance the well-being of the Rakyat where productivity level will be increased. Thus, with the completion of those roads, Sarawak’s economic growth will be further accelerated.

Stay safe when celebrating Gawai, Temenggong Aggan advises the Iban community in Kuching

KUCHING, May 16, 2020 - The Iban community in Kuching Division should take heed of the Sarawak government's advice for a safe Gawai celebration this year, in view of the Covid-19 pandemic in the state.

 

Miring is part of an Iban Adat held during Gawai Dayak celebration

Kuching Iban community paramount chief Temenggong Datuk Bernard Aggan has called on the Iban Pemancas, Penghulus, Tuai Rumahs and JKKK chairmen to explain to those under their areas of jurisdiction on the need to stay safe during the celebration.

“We need to be extremely careful when celebrating this Gawai for fear there will be an outbreak of the Covid-19 illness among us.

"The dreaded illness is still around us .We are in the midst of fighting a battle so we must follow  the advices and strategies in order to win the battle against the virus ," he said in a statement here today.

"I fully support the advice given by the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee Chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah on how we should celebrate during this very difficult time.

"He had said yesterday that there should be no "ngabang" or open house.

“But we can allow only close family members to come over,” he said, adding that he is in an agreement that the number should be 20 and less on the first day of the celebration.

"But since our typical city houses may not be able to comfortably accommodate 20 people coming at the same time, I suggest for them to come in two groups of 10 people each," he said, adding that the first group should come in the morning while the second ground, in the afternoon.

“In this way we can have much space for social distancing.

"Actually, the advice is for us not to hold any Gawai Open House.

"It is not that we do not welcome our friends from other races to visit us and share our Gawai joys.

"Like other Malaysians, the Iban community must do their part to break the chain of transmission," he said.

He said the community leaders should inform their people not to organise any gatherings or functions that would attract a huge crowd.

"The Gawai is still full of joys and happiness when we celebrate among our own family members," he said.

"The bottom line is we should not have any mass gathering..

"An infected person but who is asymptomatic can easily spread the Covid-19 illness in such a situation.

"I too would like to remain everyone to maintain the highest personal hygiene.

"On this note, I hope all will follow the advice given.

"Let us stay vigilant, stay safe, stay home and save lives.

"Meanwhile I would like to take this opportunity to wish all Dayak a happy Gawai Dayak in advance.

"May the blessing and the protection of Almighty God be upon us during this Covid-19 pandemic,” he added.

Three Opposition DUN members want Speaker to call for a meeting of consultative committee to discuss on Petronas deal

KUCHING, May 16, 2020 - Three Opposition State Assemblymen today called on the Speaker Datuk Amar Asfia Nassar to convene a meeting of the State Assembly’s consultative committee to deliberate on matters being reached and discussed between the state government and Petronas.

Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak Building

The three - Chiew Chiu Sing (N.68 Tanjong Batu), Irene Mary Chang Oi Ling (N.51 Bukit Assek) and See Chee How (N.11 Batu Lintang) - are members of the consultative committee.

In a joint statement, they said the meeting is to deliberate on matters pertaining to the negotiation, dealing and arrangement between the Sarawak State Government and Petronas to safeguard the State’s sovereign rights and interests to oil and gas within the territory of Sarawak.  

They said on November 6, 2018, the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly unanimously approved a ministerial motion tabled by Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah pursuant to Standing Order 23(1)(a) read together with Standing Order 89 and Article 24(1) of the State Constitution to establish a Consultative Committee.

They said this committee is to determine and agree upon the representations for submission to the Sarawak representatives of the MA63 Steering Committee to advance and safeguard the special interests, rights and position of Sarawak as enshrined in MA63 and the Federal Constitution and to meet the expectations of Sarawakians for greater autonomy and devolution of powers to the State.

On May 8, 2020, it was published in Sarawakian and national online media a joint statement signed by the Honourable Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Law, State-Federal Relationship and Project Monitoring) and the Chairman of Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) declaring that both the State Government of Sarawak and Petronas had reached settlement on their legal suits.

The said joint statement had disclosed, among others, that the Sarawak State Government and Petronas had agreed for PETRONAS to pay RM2 billion to settle the sales tax imposed on the petroleum products for year 2019, and that future petroleum products sales tax will be reduced and staggered based on future negotiations.

Further, it was expressed that all previous agreements between the two parties made under the Petroleum Development Act are still valid and enforceable and that PETRONAS is still recognised as having full ownership and control over national oil and gas development, in line with the Federal Constitution.

Most regrettably, the negotiation, arrangement and agreement reached between the Sarawak State Government and Petronas had proceeded without prior notice, deliberation nor sanction of the Consultative Committee on MA63.

On May 11, 2020, Honourable member from Batu Lintang had submitted an emergency motion to resolve for the Honourable Assistant Minister to reveal in our Legislative Assembly the full settlement terms and seek for the Dewan to review, appraise and deliberate on the terms and concessions and to instruct the State Government of Sarawak on its present and future conduct of the legal proceedings to safeguard the sovereign rights of Sarawak to her Land and all her resources.

In dismissing the emergency motion, the Honourable Speaker of the Dewan had ruled that the matters raised in the Motion must first be referred to the Consultative Committee on MA63 for it to discuss and advice the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly on the course of action to embark.

The three said they are most concerned that the agreement reached between the Sarawak State Government and Petronas will have detrimental and dire financial consequences on the State, and any concession made by the State government in their arrangement and agreement may contravene the desires, demands, and expectations of Sarawakians.

“We are pleased to note that the Right Honourable Chief Minister has expressed on 14 May 2020 that the new arrangement being negotiated and the negotiation will have to go through the Sarawak Legislative Assembly Consultative Committee.

“We therefore call upon the Honourable Speaker who is also the Chairman of the Consultative Committee to expeditiously schedule and call for a meeting to deliberate on matters pertaining to the negotiation, dealing and arrangement between the State Government and Petronas to safeguard the State’s sovereign rights and interests to oil and gas within the territory of Sarawak.

“And we earnestly call on the State Government not to allow any further steps to be taken by any state authority body or office to give legal effect to any of the terms of settlement until and unless the same have been fully deliberated and agreed upon by the Sarawak Consultative Committee on MA63,” they said.