Batang Lupar 1 Bridge pillars may become ‘feeding ground’ for terubok, says Abang Johari

Abang Johari speaking during a dinner with community leaders and village chiefs (KMKK) of the Mukah Division held at a local hotel in Mukah on Oct 2, 2026. Photo credit: Office of Premier of Sarawak (OPS)/Sarawakku Facebook page.

By Christine T

KUCHING, Oct 2: What was built to connect communities is now also helping feed them, as more than 30 pillars of the Batang Lupar 1 Bridge may be providing a feeding ground for terubok fish.

Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said he believed the bridge pillars could be providing a feeding environment for terubok, with young terubok, known locally as ’emperit’, feeding around the structures as they grow.

“Why has the number of terubok increased? Because we built the bridge and its pillars produce food for the terubok.

“Coincidentally, the bridge we built has pillars that provide a place for food to be produced for the fish. That is why terubok has increased in the [Sebuyau] area,” he said during a dinner with community leaders and village chiefs (KMKK) of the Mukah Division earlier tonight, which was broadcast live by Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) on Facebook.

Abang Johari described the relationship as a matter of science, saying development projects should take scientific knowledge into account.

“This is all science. When we build things like this, we must use scientific knowledge to develop our respective areas,” he stated.

Abang Johari also said Sarawak had invested RM70 million to develop artificial reefs from Tanjung Datu to Lawas, which he said had contributed to an increase in fish numbers, including in Mukah.

He said Sarawak had previously relied on federal government funding for artificial reef projects, with allocations of RM2 million to RM4 million at a time, before deciding to undertake the initiative itself. — DayakDaily