The 3D conceptual image shows the proposed Bintulu Jepak Bridge over Kemena River
 
 

BINTULU: The construction of the Bintulu Jepak Bridge across the Kemena River will commence early next year, says Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.

The project, which he approved  last year, would also culminate in the relocation of the divisional administration to Jepak.

He said upon the completion of this bridge, it would present a holistic impact to the socio-economy and integration of the rural areas.

Abang Johari announced this during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri gathering at Masjid Darul Makmur in Kampung Jepak near here yesterday.

In March last year, the chief minister announced a RM250-million allocation for the construction of a bridge over Kemena River, set to connect this town with Jepak. He highlighted it as ‘more than just an ordinary bridge – one with iconic designs’.

Upon its completion, Abang Johari said the bridge would help in the growth of areas in Jepak on the other side of the river where a township – much like Petra Jaya in Kuching – would be developed to accommodate the new Bintulu Resident’s Office and other buildings housing local offices of government departments and agencies.

By then, the Jepak side will be somewhat of an icon for Bintulu as we will also build a government complex, complete with a new Resident’s Office as well as commercial and housing estates amidst green surroundings,” he said.

Abang Johari believed that with the opening of new township in Jepak, the Sarawak government would be able to control and eventually reduce house prices in this division.

“We will build new houses in a new area so that we can have more supplies which in turn, will reduce prices.
“If there are higher demand, but we remain focused on only one location, the (house) prices would surely increase,” he said.

Earlier Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip, who is Jepak assemblyman, requested the chief minister to look into ways of reducing the house prices in Bintulu because at the moment, one house typically has more than one family living under one roof, which is viewed as being ‘too crowded’.

Also present at the event were Talib’s wife Datin Dr Zaleha Abdullah, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Assistant Minister of Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, Bintulu Resident Jack Aman Luat, Samalaju assemblyman Majang Renggi, Bintulu Development Authority general manager Rodziah Morshidi, and Bintulu Islamic Trust Board (Lakib) deputy chairman Datu Mohidin Ishak.