MIRI: The people in Lambir welcome the announcement by Assistant Minister for Communication and Sport, Datuk Lee Kim Shin that the road from Bakam passing by Bekenu, Niah and Suai to Samalaju in Bintulu is being considered for upgrading under the 11th Malaysian Plan.

Lambir assemblyman Ripin Lamat brought up on the fourth day of the DUN sitting the need for a wider coastal road shoulder from Bakam to Samalaju.

PRS Lambir chairman cum PRS Supreme Council member Pandang Semat said the road must be upgraded soonest as it is too narrow and accident-prone.

He said priority must be given to the stretch road from Bakam to Samalaju as hundreds of vehicles are using it daily and to avoid any untoward accident.

“We thank YB Ripin Lamat for taking up the matter in the DUN and want the ministry concerned to speed up the budget allocation,” Pandang informed The Borneo Post yesterday.

According to Pandang, most of the longhouse folks and villagers from Bakong, Bekenu, Niah, Lambir Bintulu and other divisions are using the coastal road daily.

He said the road shoulder along the Bakam stretch of road is too small for heavy duty vehicles to park.

“Many accidents have happened when vehicles parked along the said road were knocked from behind,” he disclosed further.

Sharing the view, Kapitan Haw Min Wai from Niah disclosed that the road was not up to standard as a coastal highway.

“All these years, I have seen a lot of accidents at that stretch of road which is too narrow and dangerous for heavy vehicles to overtake,” Kapitan Haw said.

He wants the federal government to allocate a budget for the coastal road to be upgraded into a dual carriageway.

Lee announced that the government plan is to upgrade the 150 km coastal road from Bakam to Samalaju at a cost of RM350 million and the 60 km road from Niah, Sepupuk to Miri costing RM60 million.