INCUMBENT:
Nancy Shukri (BN-PBB)
Last 05 May, 2013 Election Result:
1. Nancy Shukri (BN-PBB): 13,277 votes
2. Mohamad Jolhi (PR-PAS): 2,017 votes
Majority: 11,260 votes
The parliamentary seat of Batang Sadong (P.200) comprises the state seats of Sadong Jaya (N. 24) and Simunjan (N. 25) which are currently represented by Aidel Lariwoo (BN-PBB) and Awla Idris (BN-PBB) respectively. After the completion of the Batang Sadong Bridge that stretches 1.48 km across the Batang Sadong River, the ferry service connecting the two sides of the river since upteen years has now become redundant.
The bridge has brought about a lot of media attention as it is the longest bridge crossing a river in Sarawak to date. Notably, it is also the third longest bridge in Malaysia. It was officially opened on December 18, 2016 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak though it had already been completed and opened to public two months earlier on October 16.
The Batang Sadong Bridge strategically connects towns like Sadong Jaya, Simunjan and Gedong to Samarahan which is a fast-growing area adjacent to Sarawak’s capital Kuching.
Serious efforts to lift the living standard of the local 20,000-odd population, mostly farmers and fishermen, are evidenced by the BN Government’s regular upgrading of the drainage and irrigation system in the rural constituency. Public Works Department has spent large sums of money to improve the roads in Kampung Ensengei, Kampung Saul, Kampung Sungai Lingkau and other villages populated mostly by natives. The bridge is certainly a game changer for many areas located on both sides of the river.
Many economic activities formerly dependent on the ferry service are now speeded up through lorries, vans and other vehicles. The project was completed two weeks ahead of schedule and cost less than was initially projected. Prime Minister Najib had spontaneously approved the project back in 2011 without any budget set for it. After the bridge’s completion, he disclosed that it cost RM231 million versus the initial projected cost of RM243 million.
Locals from the surrounding areas are delighted that the bridge has become the catalyst for economic development as transportation of goods can now be conducted efficiently. Apart from that, they are also expecting more facilities to come in such as fire stations, better water supply and so on. Even celebrations and festivals can now be held at different areas in the constituency. Since the bridge’s completion, Batang Sadong’s current Member of Parliament, Dato Sri Nancy Shukri has come up with many plans to raise awareness about the bridge.
This includes the inaugural Batang Sadong Bridge Run held on December 11, 2016 which saw some 1,930 participants. The run began from SK Sungai Bulu in Sadong Jaya and was flagged off as early as 6am. Nancy, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, had announced that a Rest and Recreation (R&R) Centre would be built near the bridge to help boost socio-economic activities. “It will be similar to those R&R centres in West Malaysia and will be constructed on both sides of the bridge. Give us time to realise it,” she said.
As an MP, Nancy said that in 2016, almost RM5 milion had been spent to implement the Project Mesra Rakyat (PMR) in the Batang Sadong parliamentary area. Most of the money was used for 97 construction projects.
“Fifty-seven of these projects were in the form of supply of materials while the remainding 40 were construction projects,” said Nancy, who informed that most of the projects had now been completed. On the upcoming general election, she said the BN Batang Sadong election machinery is in full gear to give the BN a resounding victory in GE14. “We are all ready to face the GE14. We are only waiting for the Prime Minister to announce the date,” she said.
