SEBUYAU: It is the time for the government to build the state’s coastal highway as the construction of the Pan Borneo Highway is now underway.
Assistant Minister for Rural Economy (Coastal Areas) and Fisheries, Datuk Haji Julaihi Narawi admitted that the coastal highway was an urgent need for the development of economic activities in coastal areas.
“People in coastal areaa think it is time to have coastal highway. However, coastal highway still needs a lot of complementary facilities such bridges to cross rivers.
“Bridges along the coastal roads have to be built otherwise we have to take to the ferry. But ferry service is not profitable in the long term, and the operating cost of the ferry can be used to build bridges,” he said.
He said people in coastal areas also needed roads which would be the best opportunity for them to develop their economy activities in coastal areas.
According to Julaihi, with roads or highway, the coastal people can develop their idle lands, open up opportunities for the agriculture market, provide opportunities for investors to invest in coastal areas and the development of ecotourism.
He said Sebuyau was among the coastal areas along which the coastal highway route would take.
“Batang Sadong Bridge is the complementary to the coastal highway and now the construction of the Batang Lupar Bridge has been approved by the state and federal governments.
“With the other plans such as the Sebuyau New Township and the industrial estate approved under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) and other development, I believe Sebuyau will develop as agriculture and fisheries centre of Sarawak, “he said.
Commenting on the status of the coastal highway, Julaihi said that in principle, the government agreed to build a coastal road to complete the ‘missing links’ found along the coastal areas of Sarawak.
“We hope that if the coastal road can be implemented in the near future, it will have an impact in terms of economic development of the coastal areas.
“In addition, about 36 per cent of Sarawak’s population lives in coastal areas, where many resources can be developed,” he said at a press conference on Thursday.
Among the coastal areas of the state that have abundant resources are Sematan, Asajaya, Sadong Jaya, Sebuyau, Maludam, Dalat, Mukah, Balingian, Saratok, Kabong and areas all the way up to Miri.
“We want to make Sebuyau as the place where people will go to and buy products that are being sold. Hence, we expect the people in Sebuyau to be prepared for the economic changes,” said Julaihi, who is also the Sebuyau State Assemblyman.
