Tiong slams delays to urgent Sg Sebiew project, demands resolution next month
BINTULU (Dec 11): Dato Sri Tiong King Sing has slammed the lack of progress on the project to deepen and widen Sungai Sebiew, which has been discussed since 2019. The Bintulu MP and Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture lamented that there has been no progress on the project after years of delay.
“Even during my previous meeting with the Sarawak Premier YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari (Tun Openg), he agreed that this project is urgent and necessary.
“However, the authorities’ decision to approve a bridge project at such a critical juncture has come as a shocking blow to local residents,” Tiong complained during the 3rd Bintulu Development Committee Meeting for 2024.
He stated immediate priority must be given to complete the resettlement of residents from illegal settlements along both sides of the river to make way for the deepening and widening project.
He said unfortunately the resettlement process has been hindered by bureaucratic delays and a lackadaisical attitude among departments, leaving residents deeply disappointed.
“I am issuing a final warning to all relevant departments, including the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID), Land and Survey Department, Bintulu Development Authority (BDA), and Public Works Department (JKR).
“A special meeting must be held in January 2025 to discuss and resolve all obstacles to this project. Clear deadlines must be set to expedite the resettlement process as efficiently as possible,” he stressed.
Tiong urged BDA to urgently produce a masterplan for the resettlement project, detailing timelines, construction progress, rental or purchase costs, and other relevant information to ensure a smooth and transparent relocation process.
He pointed out the proposed bridge construction project linking Taman Kemena Sutera to Taman Jason must be reviewed, especially its impact on Sungai Sebiew’s dredging and widening works.
“My preliminary assessment suggests that the current bridge design may obstruct future riverbed maintenance work. “Additionally, the project must prioritise community needs by ensuring it benefits a broad section of society rather than a small group of residents.
“Engagement with the community is a prerequisite for implementing any development plan,” he said.
According to him, residents from several housing areas, especially Taman Jason, have strongly opposed the project due to worries of its potential impact on the planned deepening and widening of Sungai Sebiew.
“This critical river is a main discharge in the event of heavy water surges. They lamented whether the authorities would only take flash flood issues seriously when Bintulu becomes entirely submerged,” he said.
During the meeting chaired by Bintulu Resident Datu Nyurak Keti, Tiong reiterated that all development plans must be forward-looking and capable of accommodating future trends and population growth.
He said this includes upgrading water supply systems, expanding clinics or hospitals, and building additional schools. “For instance, water supply projects in the Samalaju industrial area must account for future demand by installing larger diameter, high-pressure pipes from the outset.
“While the upfront cost may be higher, it will save on maintenance costs in the long term,” he said.
Similarly, Tiong said rural clinics in Lubok Tapang and Nanga Tau should be allocated larger land areas, even if their current populations are small, to prepare for future population growth as urban areas expand.
“The same applies to schools, especially as many in Bintulu are already overcrowded. “If new land can be secured for additional schools, planning should consider the number of students expected in the coming decades to address long-term educational needs effectively,” he said.
-Agency
