Kuala Lumpur: The Batang Lupar Bridge, Batang Igan Bridge, and Rambungan Bridge projects were cancelled by the Honourable Baru Bian while he was serving as Minister of Works in 2019.
Several factors contributed to the cancellation of these approved bridge projects. The projects involved state roads, while under the government’s policy at the time, the Ministry of Works was responsible only for the construction and upgrading of federal roads.
As a result, the then Minister of Works, Baru Bian, decided to cancel the bridge projects (which involved state roads) and redirect the allocated funding to prioritise the construction of the federal road project, the Sarawak–Sabah Link Road Phase 1 (SSLR1).
The SSLR1 federal road project is expected to benefit residents in the Miri, Limbang, and Lawas areas by providing a route that does not require travel through Brunei.
Northern Sarawak, particularly Limbang and Lawas, had lagged in road network development for nearly 50 years and could only be accessed via Brunei.
Although they are part of Sarawak, the people of Limbang and Lawas had effectively been isolated due to the lack of transportation links connecting them to Miri.
Therefore, at that time, priority for federal road projects was given to the people of Sarawak living in Limbang, Lawas, and Miri.
The RM900 million allocated by the state government for the construction of the three bridges was cancelled, and the funds were reallocated to the Sarawak–Sabah Link Road Phase 1 (SSLR1).
I believe that the plan to develop the Sarawak–Sabah Link Road Phase 1 (SSLR1), initiated by former Minister of Works Baru Bian, was well received by the people of Sarawak living in Limbang, Lawas, and Miri.
The SSLR1 project was subsequently continued by the Minister of Works, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, during the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration.
Phase 2 of the Sarawak–Sabah Link Road (SSLR2) was launched by the Madani Government and officiated by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Nanga Medamit, Limbang, in 2025. SSLR2 involves a 335-kilometre highway alignment with RM7.6 billion in federal government funding and will connect Miri, Marudi, Mulu, Limbang, Lawas, and Ba’Kelalan.
I do not deny that many Sarawakians were disappointed by the cancellation of the Batang Lupar Bridge, Batang Igan Bridge, and Rambungan Bridge projects, which fall under the state government.
However, at the same time, I also believe that the people of Limbang, Lawas, and Miri breathed a sigh of relief and were pleased that they, too, received attention and priority from the Federal Government when the Sarawak–Sabah Link Road project began in 2021.
Larry Asap
Senator
2 July 2026
