12 rural roads upgrading projects ongoing in Batu Kawa, says Deputy Premier

KUCHING (Aug 23): Twelve roads within the Batu Kawa constituency will undergo the Phase 5 rural roads upgrading projects, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.

The Batu Kawa assemblyman said this will include Kampung Rantau Panjang, Kampung Stapok Melayu, Stapok Utama, Kampung Sinar Budi Baru, Kampung Sinar Budi Lama, Jalan Ming Chung, Lorong Sin San Tu B, Lorong Kangkok, Lorong Kim Choo Sing, Lorong Sungai Tapang, Lorong Hua Soon and Lorong Sejijak.

“A total of 273 households will benefit from this road upgrade project, covering a total length of 5.7 kilometres,” he said.

He said this when met during a recent inspection of an ongoing road upgrade project at Rantau Panjang in Batu Kawa, following the completion of survey and tender processes by the Padawan Municipal Council (MPP).

According to him, 294 households had benefitted from the first phase of the project in 2020, involving works on 12.48 kilometres stretch of roads.

“The second phase in 2021 added a further 4.56 kilometres, assisting 426 households; followed by another 3.55 kilometers later that year, benefitting 85 households.

“In 2023, we completed almost a kilometre in the fourth phase to benefit the remaining 53 households,” he said.

Over the past four years, close to 28 kilometres of rural roads in the Batu Kawa constituency have been upgraded, benefitting 1,131 households, he disclosed.

Given the extensive area of the Batu Kawa constituency with many gravel roads, the road upgrade programme, he said, will continue in a systematic and phased manner.

Thus, he called upon the residents to help with the supervision of works carried out by the awarded contractors and to promptly report any issues during the construction phase to his Batu Kawa Service Centre.

“With the unwavering support of the Sarawak government and Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, it is crucial for the entire community to rally together and seize this opportunity to transform Batu Kawa into a thriving and prosperous region for all,” he said.