SIBU: Two new roads and a bridge proposed for this town can be constructed at lower costs of between RM70 million and RM100 million instead of RM400 million.
Speaking at a press conference here today Pelawan assemblyman David Wong said these roads are from Jalan Wong King Hoe to the Road Transport Department office at Jalan Ulu Oya Lama, and from Jalan Teku to Kemuyang.
The proposed bridge is to link Jalan Ulu Sungai Merah to Permai, he said.
Wong said Infrastructure Development and Transportation Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing had tabled the projects under the Mid-term Review at a cost of RM400 million during his winding-up speech at the just concluded State Legislative Assembly sitting.
Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh had, during the 2005 Chinese New Year gathering, announced that the projects would involve a cost of RM180 million, added Wong.
“I have proposed that the 7km Jalan Teku to Kemuyang road be built at a cost of RM30 mln and the 7km road from Jalan Wong King Hoe to the Road Transport Department office be built at RM30 mln while the bridge can be done at RM10 mln,” he explained.
Wong said the estimates he suggested for the projects were possible as the land where these projects are sited belongs to the state while the bridge can be just one-lane instead of dual lane.
“If we can reduce the costs of the projects to between RM70 mln and RM100 mln, they are a piece of cake under the RM1.9 billion state budget for 2019.
“We see that the projects can be implemented soon instead of having to wait for a longer period to get the RM400 million,” Wong pointed out.
The projects, he stressed, would benefit the five state constituencies of Pelawan, Nangka, Dudong, Bukit Assek and Bawang Assan.Wong praised Masing for putting politics aside for the people of Sibu.
“After I have told Masing of my proposal, he immediately asked the Sibu Division Public Works Department engineer to see me.
“I will see Masing next Tuesday. I hope that after we have submitted our report, the projects can commence next year,” added Wong.
He, however, lambasted Soon Koh for building just one new road – Jalan Ling Kai Cheng in 2005 – since winning the 1996 state election.
“Only with new roads, we can see more developments. More affordable homes can also be built,” said Wong.
