MUKAH: Sarawak will proceed with the infrastructure projects in Matu to ensure that the district would not be left behind in development.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state government in making the decision also weighed the economic benefits that the locals could derive from the projects.
According to him, the state government would build bridges namely, Jambatan Igan, Jambatan Batang Lassa and Jambatan Batang Paloh to link Matu district with Tanjung Manis through a network of coastal roads.
He noted that the projects taken over by the state government would involve substantial funds.
“The bid for Jambatan Batang Lassa was done via open tender while Jambatan Igan is in the process of tender,” he said yesterday.
The chief minister asserted that the state government was capable of absorbing the costs as Sarawak stood to earn an additional RM3 billion from the implementation of the sales tax on oil and gas in the state.
With the RM3 billion addition, he said, Sarawak’s income totalled more than RM10 billion.