KUCHING: A new bridge has been completed in Kampung Buntal near here to connect the village to a surau.
Assistant Minister for Utilities (Water Supply) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi inspected the bridge at the village today.
“The new bridge will benefit the community here especially when they go to the surau for prayer,” he said.
The Pantai Damai assemblymen commented that the bridge costing about RM400,000 was a projek rakyat approved by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg for the villagers.
Dr Abdul Rahman, who is also Assistant Minister for Islamic Affairs and Kuching North City Hall (DBKU), said the bridge was successfully constructed in six months to replace an old wooden bridge in the village.
“We came here eight months ago and we saw the wooden bridge, which was around 30 to 40 years old. It was dilapidated and not safe to use,” he noted.
He explained that the village committee had requested the state government for help to replace the old wooden bridge with a new one.
“The new bridge will last longer because of the materials used and it is now safer for the villagers to cross,” he added.
The new bridge is 95 metres in length with an arc in the middle, built using concrete and the rail guard made of steel.
The bridge has an arc in the middle to make way for fishermen to go to sea because most of the population here are fishermen.