PRIME Minister Najib Razak might have boasted about having visited Sarawak 59 times and been to 126 places in the state since taking office in 2009, but today, it was apparent that he has no idea how large the state is.
The “friend of Sarawak” told attendees at Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu’s triennial delegates’ conference in Kuching how he had agreed to build a bridge, thinking it would be a small one.
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He said in a meeting with former chief minister Adenan Satem, he had agreed to foot half the bill for the bridge.
“I thought it would cost RM300 million to RM400 million.”
He said he was “shocked” when he was informed by Works Minister Fadillah Yusof later that the 5km bridge, over Batang Lupar, would cost RM1 billion.
Najib said he had jumped to the conclusion that the Batang Lupar bridge would cost a “few hundred million ringgit” as he had earlier approved another bridge over a “Batang” that cost that much.
He was referring to the bridge over Batang Sadong, which had cost RM200 million.
The bridge, opened on October 16, 2016, is just 1.4km long.
Najib said he honoured his promise for the federal government to pay 50% of the cost of the Batang Lupar bridge as he had given his word.
The Batang Sadong and Batang Lupar bridges are part of the state’s new coastal road that will link all coastal towns from Kuching to Miri.
It will be the state’s second trunk road after the Pan-Borneo Highway.
The two bridges are set to replace the river ferry service.
“I never knew that there are so many rivers in Sarawak,” quipped Najib.
– https://www.themalaysianinsight.com
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