The proposed second trunk road project is part of the state’s initiative to safeguard its hydropower plants such as the Bakun dam.

KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri James Masing is confident the state is able to source about RM7bil to start the second Sarawak expressway and interior highway projects.

Masing, who is also Infrastructure Development and Transportation Minister, said the building of the expressway – from the coastal road in Sebuyau to Betong – would help cut travelling time from Kuching to Sibu by two-and-a-half hours.

With a distance of only 85km, the expressway would greatly open up economy at the coastal areas from Sebuyau to Sri Aman and Betong, spurring agriculture activities among others, he added.

The distance from Sibu to Kuching via Pan Borneo Highway is about 400km. The second trunk road could reduce travelling distance by some 200km.

“The second Sarawak expressway project will cost around RM5bil. We will try to outsource the budget, apart from depending on the Federal Government.

“My ministry will propose these projects to the state government. Once approved, we will look for the fund. I am confident we can find the money to implement these projects,” he told reporters.

As for the second trunk road along the state border areas with West Kalimantan, Masing said the project was part of the state’s initiative to safeguard its hydropower plants in Batang Ai, Bakun and Murum.

At the same time, it is to improve mobility of the security forces to protect areas from Ulu Layar, Pakan, Julau, Kanowit, Song and Kapit to Ulu Baleh, the site of the Baleh hydropower dam project.

At the same time, the road network would open up economic activities in the said areas, he added.

The interior highway, at a distant of some 300km, will cost about RM2bil.

“We have the fund, why not use this money to build infrastructure for the people. The people have already voted for Team Adenan (in the last state polls in May). Now we must repay the people for putting their confidence in this government,” he said while making reference to Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem who led the state’s Barisan Nasional government.

He added: “We have to dream big. Don’t wait for someone else to arrange this (infrastructure projects) for us. As minister-in-charge of infrastructure, it is my duty to push this proposal and see that it would be realised.”

Masing hoped the Sebuyau-Betong expressway would commence and completed at the same time with the Pan-Borneo Highway project. As for the interior highway, he targeted for it to commence under the 12th Malaysia Plan.

The minister would also discuss with the armed forces on the proposed interior highway along the state’s borders.

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