Sarawak border road network project adopts bottom-up approach for maximum impact

MIRI (Aug 2): The engagement session held by Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda) with stakeholders of the Sarawak Border Project is aimed at coming up with the best access road alignment to benefit locals, said its CEO Datu Ismawi Ismuni.

This bottom-up approach is part of its development strategy for the construction of access roads from Long Banga to Bario and from Bario to Ba Kelalan in northern Sarawak, a Recoda statement said.

The engagement session was held in Miri recently to obtain input and feedback regarding the proposed road alignment that will be developed later, so that all aspects are evaluated and taken into account.

Ismawi said the input sharing session was important because it not only enabled Recoda to execute road alignments that could have the greatest positive impact, but most importantly emphasising the safety aspect in border areas of Sarawak and Kalimantan, Indonesia.

“This project will not only provide benefits and comfort for local residents in addition to reducing travel time, but also provides better access roads to government facilities outside the city such as border control posts, rural service centres, health clinics and government offices. Because of that, we need to have a sense of responsibility to the local residents and those who use these roads,” he said.

Recoda has been given a mandate by the federal government through the Ministry of Economy to implement this project. It was approved under the 12th Malaysia Plan Rolling Plan 3 (Year 2023), with the scope of the preliminary work project covering land survey, investigation, EIA study, design preparation and land acquisition.

The total length of the proposed road from Long Banga to Ba Kelalan is about 133km, with Long Banga to Bario stretch in Miri Division at 91.3km and Bario to Ba Kelalan (41.5km).

The proposed road will be designed based on JKR standard R1 with R3 road formation width.

Also invited to the Miri stakeholders engagement session were Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) and Mulu assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala, Lawas MP Dato Henry Sum Agong and Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian.

Gerawat called for the alignment of roads from Long Banga to Bario and from Bario to Ba’Kelalan to be implemented soon as this area is in dire need of a road along the border that will facilitate accessibility from one village to another while also opening up economic opportunities in terms of agriculture and tourism, especially when the capital of Indonesia is moved to Nusantara in East Kalimantan soon.

He is happy that the engagement session took into account the views of all stakeholders that this road network should be exactly according to what is desired.

Henry Sum concurred as it also involved all relevant government agencies, in addition to representatives from nearby villages who need good road connectivity to market their products.

Baru hoped that the implementation of this project would be expedited, particularly the Bario-Ba Kelalan road that will link up with the access road leading to the Ba Kelalan Immigration Control Post.

“I went there last month and saw for myself the condition of the road there which really needs immediate attention and action,” he said.