SARAWAK will not entertain any lobbying for state projects, said Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg.

“It’s out of the question,” the chief minister said when addressing the state’s civil service day in Kuching today.

He said the state was aiming to achieve transparency and good governance.

This went beyond merely being a corruption-free state, Abang Johari said.

He said the people will also judge the government on its integrity and credibility “based on our ability to ensure that the projects we promised are delivered within the budget and on time”.

The state’s RM9.9 billion budget for 2020 allocates RM6.6 billion to development and transformation of Sarawak’s rural areas.

Abang Johari on November 24 launched the commencement of work on a 560m bridge over Batang Rambungan. Prior to that the government launched the construction of the Kuala Kemena and Batang Lasa bridges.

It is expected the RM98.5 million Batang Rambungan bridge will not only facilitate land travel between Kuching and Lundu, but that it would also boost economic development and eco-tourism in the coastal areas of Lundu, Sematan and Teluk Melano.

Currently, the only way to cross the river is by ferry.

Abang Johari said work would also soon commence on key bridges on the state’s coastal road over Batang Saribas, Batang Krian and Batang Paloh.

The longest and most expensive bridge on the coastal road network, the Batang Lupar project would be tendered out very soon, he said.

“These bridges are some of the missing links of the coastal highway which are vital for unlocking the potential of our coastal areas, especially in food production.

“All these bridge projects costing a few billion ringgit are tendered out via open tender and lobbying for the projects is out of the question.”

The Pakatan Harapan federal government had cancelled the bridge projects when it came into power last year, which had led to anger and resentment in Sarawak, which decided to fund the projects themselves.

The state has since allocated funds for the projects in its annual budget.  

The state government and the ousted Barisan Nasional government have agreed to evenly split the cost of the Batang Lupar bridge. For the Batang Rambungan bridge, the state will pay for it first and be reimbursed later by the federal government.

Abang Johari also disclosed that the state had formed the State Development and Coordination Committee to ensure that all projects approved in budgets 2019 and 2020 were implemented and completed as scheduled. – December 4, 2019.