LIMBANG: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed hope that the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road (SSLR) project will bring more convenience and improved mobility to residents in northern Sarawak.
The Prime Minister said the Federal Government understood the mobility difficulties and long-standing transportation challenges faced by people in those areas, particularly due to limited road access and complex geographical conditions.
"I took a helicopter from Miri to Limbang earlier today and had to pass through Brunei. That alone illustrates how difficult it is for the people living here.
"From the air, I could see the hilly terrain and the sheer scale of the landscape, which explains why the project costs here are significantly higher and require substantial funding,” he said at the official launch of SSLR Phase 2 in Nanga Medamit, here on Thursday (Sept 11).
Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The SSLR Phase 2 project, with an estimated cost of RM7.6bil, is scheduled for completion in 2029.
The 335km stretch will connect Mulu, Nanga Medamit (Limbang), Long Luping (Lawas), and Ba’kelalan.
The scope of works includes the construction of roads, bridges, viaducts, street lighting, and drainage systems, marking a major step forward in providing modern infrastructure to previously underserved areas.
SSLR Phase 2 is a continuation of the first phase of the project, which stretches from Lawas to Long Luping. Phase 1 commenced in 2021 and has reached 57.6 per cent completion as of now.
The overall SSLR project is seen as a game-changer for interconnectivity in the Borneo states, reducing reliance on routes that pass through Brunei and enhancing socio-economic opportunities in rural Sarawak.- Bernama
