Btg Lupar 1 bridge, Malaysia's longest bridge spanning over a river, is to open to public in mid-May, says JKR Samarahan

SAMARAHAN, March 14 2026:  Batang Lupar 1 bridge, Malaysia’s longest bridge spanning over a river, is scheduled to open to public middle of May this year.

Caption: Batang Lupar 1 bridge ready  to open to public in May this year 

Samarahan Division Public Works Department,  in an update on the construction today, said the construction  of the bridge is now almost completed.

“The Batang Lupar 1 Bridge is  expected to open to the public in mid-May 2026, thus improving the connectivity of Sarawak's coastal road network,” it said.

Previously, Deputy Premier Douglas Uggah said the project was currently on schedule, expressing his confidence that construction could be fully completed according to the set timeline.

Uggah, who is also the Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development, said the 4.8-kilometer-long bridge connecting Sebuyau and Maludam is among the strategic projects of the Sarawak government to enhance the connectivity network, especially in the area.

According to him, once the bridge network was fully completed, land travel from Kuching to Limbang would  no longer require ferry services.

He also said the project would play an important role in completing the coastal road connections and main roads linking Sebuyau, Asajaya, and Gedong with Triso and Maludam.

Batang Lupar 1 bridge was one of the federal mega bridge projects in Sarawak cancelled by the Pakatan Harapan(PH) when it came to power following its victory in the 2018 general election.

However, the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government took over, using the state funds, so that its construction  would continue without disruption. 

Stretching over 4.8 km, the Batang Lupar 1 bridge is the longest spanning over a in Malaysia.

Once completed, the structure will connect the town of Sebuyau in Samarahan to Triso-Maludam-Pusa in Betong, and later replace the Sebuyau-Triso ferry service.

The project includes the construction of a two-lane cable-stayed bridge, which meets the road standard of JKR R5 with a clearance of 250 m in width, and 26 m in height for large vessels to pass through.

This project, costing about RM900 million, was orginally planned to be completed in 2025. However due to unforeseen circumstances, the completion date wad  adjuste

The project was approved when the Barisan Nasional was in power. Its construction started in 2021.

 

 

Larry Sng says he will help those without motorcyle licences in Julau in their applications

JULAU, March 14 2026: Member of Parliament Larry Sng has said that he will help youth and residents in his Julau parliamentary constituency to obtain licences during a programme that  will be organised in collaboration with the Road Transport Department (JPJ).

Caption: Julau MP Larry Sng chairing a meeting at his service centre 

The programme “MyLesen” will be organized in collaboration with the Julau Parliamentary Service Centre and he expects at least 1000 participants aged 16 years and above who do not have a licence.

“I hope the people in the Julau parliamentary constituency seize the opportunity and can drive motorcycles legally,” he wrote on his Facebook.

In addition, he said the programme will give talks on traffic rules and regulations.

“There is now a fuel subsidy on condition that only licencees can access the service.

“Therefore, the participants will also enjoy the subsidy service if they have a valid licence,” Larry stressed.

In addition, he attended the annual general meeting of Julau parliamentary constituency’s Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti (PDK), a community-based rehabilitation initiative for persons with disabilities (OKU), especially children and adolescents, aimed at providing education, vocational training, and social integration.

Larry said he was re-elected as chairman of  PDK Julau for the second term from 2026 to 2028.

He said he hopes PDK can do as many activities as last year.

“I hope more members and participants in PDK Julau,” he said, adding that there are still many people with disabilities who cannot receive assistance and this is a way to deliver assistance to them.

 

PMX approves RM150 million allocation for repair works on Sungai Sarawak barrage

KUCHING, March 13 2026: The federal government has approved an allocation of RM150 million for repair works on Sungai Sarawak barrage which has been affected by erosion.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (picture) said his deputy Fadillah Yusof had requested the allocation from him during the previous government cabinet meeting.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said his deputy Fadillah Yusof had requested the allocation from him during the previous government cabinet meeting.

He explained that the allocation application was approved during today’s State Development Meeting held at the Satria Pertiwi Complex which was also attended by Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg.

"So we have agreed after listening, around RM150 million has been allocated to immediately repair the barrage," he said when speaking at the Sarawak Level Madani Iftar ceremony 2026 at the Sarawak State Mosque, Petra Jaya.

Fadillah, when met by reporters, said that the allocation of RM150 million was to address the issue of erosion at the barrage, especially in the upstream and downstream areas.

He said that this matter was discussed in the context of the flood limitation plan, and a state study on the integrity of the barrage was one of the important things requested before approval could be given.

"Only the study from the state needs to be given as soon as possible so that we can take it to the Ministry of Economy and also to the Cabinet," he explained.

On March 10, Sarawak Minister of Transport Lee Kim Shin had said that Fadillah had acknowledged the urgent need to undertake remedial works to address the deteriorating structural conditions of the Sarawak River Barrage.

Lee said that Fadillah, in a meeting with a delegation of the state MoT, also wanted the expansion of riverbed scouring both upstream and downstream of the barrage to be continued.

“These works are essential to ensure the continued effectiveness of the barrage in supporting flood mitigation efforts in Kuching and its surrounding areas,” Lee said in a statement.

According to Lee, Fadillah stressed the importance of enhancing the river monitoring system and encouraged closer collaboration between the federal Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) and its state counterpart on the proposed upgrading of telemetry stations at barrage.

“The upgrading initiative is expected to improve real-time monitoring capabilities and strengthen flood management operations along the Sungai Sarawak Basin,” he said.

 

Fuziah: No cases of traders caught selling 1kg polybag of cooking oil to non-Malaysians during inspections since March 1

KUCHING, March 13 2026: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) has carried out 563 inspections in Sarawak since March 1 to ensure strict compliance with the ban on the sale and purchase of 1kg polybag of cooking oil. 

Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Fuziah Salleh sayssince March 1, a total of 13,564 inspections relating to the ban on the sale and purchase of 1kg polybag cooking oil to non-Malaysians have been carried out nationwide

“The inspection results found that so far no cases have been recorded in Sarawak to date,” the ministry’s deputy minister Fuziah Salleh said in a statement.

She said the ministry’s enforcement division team visited a supermarket in Matang to inspect the level of compliance with the implementation of the ban, the team found that transactions involving 1kg polybag cooking oil at the premises were under control with sufficient supply.

“During the visit, a Notice of Prohibition on the Sale and Purchase of 1kg Polybag Cooking Oil to Non-Malaysians was also handed over to managing director of of the supermarket  as a reminder regarding compliance with the regulations in force,” Fuziah said.

She said that since March 1, a total of 13,564 inspections relating to the ban on the sale and purchase of 1kg polybag cooking oil to non-Malaysians have been carried out nationwide.

“The results of the inspections found that no case action was recorded, while only seven complaints were received regarding the implementation of the ban,” she added,

Fuziah noted that the Ministry of Home Affairs also implemented the OPS PANTAU 2026 from 19 February to 20 March 2026 as a proactive government measure to monitor the supply and prices of essential goods throughout Ramadan and ahead of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration.

She said a total\, 4,838 inspections were carried out in Sarawak during the same period, addig that the monitoring results found that 53 complaints were received and 142 cases were recorded, with 115 on-the-spot compounds issued against traders who committed the offence.