An overnight in a hotel at Kota Samarahan gave us a much-needed rest after a long day traversing Telok Melano to the jam-prone Kota Samarahan area, when traffic at certain stretches could be just a standstill.

Hoping for a fine day did not happen today as heavy rain had started early in the morning. Due to such phenomenon, we have to delay our journey until we think it was advisable to go. Even then, we really have to slow down our four-wheel drive vehicle to ensure our own safety. Under such heavy downpour, driving was very challenging indeed.

Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) Tambirat Hawker Centre

Our first pit stop was at MPKS Tambirat Hawker Centre where we met and interviewed few traders who were more than willing to share their stories.


Mugshot of Rogayah Drahman

The new MPKS Tambirat Hawker Centre has given a much conducive place for 54-year-old Rogayah Drahman. She has been trading her wide varieties of traditional cakes and cookies at the roadside near her village at Kampung Tambirat along the busy Kota Samarahan-Asajaya Road for 18 years. So naturally she was very happy with the new market as it has open up new opportunity for her and other traders in the area,

With a minimal rent of RM90 per month, she was thankful to the MPKS for providing such a modern facility which includes toilets, cafes and ample parking spaces for motorists to stop by.

And with their hard-earned income, Rogayah and her husband have been able to send their four children to school.

“Three of my children have completed their studies and are now already having their own families. Only our youngest daughter is still with us, as she is taking her first-year study at UiTM Kota Samarahan Campus,” Rogayah told Kembara Ukas at her stall today.

She and other traders have been plying their trade at the new market soon after it was completed three years ago.


Mugshot of Juliana Khalik

Another trader, Juliana Khalik 39, has been selling fresh nipah palm fruits’ sapling juice at the market and have been having brisk business in the past three years.

“Before this, we trade our produce along the roadside. We are thankful to the authorities for providing this premises for us. Now everyone can be involved in trade as long as he or she is willing to venture into it,” she enthused


Mugshot of Rabuan Bujeng

For pineapples’ fruit-based products trader Rabuan Bujeng, 60, the facilities at MPKS Tambirat Hawker Centre is providing a good opportunity for her to increase the volume of her trade.

“I am selling pineapples’-based products such as sambal nanas, pineapple-based soap, fresh pineapple juice and pineapple cakes,” she said.

Rabuan hoped that MPKS would be able to expand the stall that she is currently operating from as it was getting too small for her business.

“My hope is for my business to grow bigger because what we are offering to our customers are very unique,” she said.

After the interviews at Pasar Tani Tambirat, we head off to Sebuyau Town instead of going to Simunjan Town, as it is way bit off the route to our next destination.


Sebuyau Town

Located at a strategic location, Sebuyau Town has steadily grown from a sleepy bazaar before the coastal road was completed. Now with better road connectivity, many motorist who ply the coastal road will stop by for their meals.

As the only biggest town located between Asajaya and Pusa, Sebuyau Town has a big potential to grow like any other major towns in Sarawak, thank of course largely to the coastal road which will soon be a seamless drive from Telok Melano right up to Miri once all the 16 bridges are completed by end of this year.



Currently, there are three major bridges which are under construction which hinder a smooth drive from Sebuyau right up to Pusa Town. The three major bridges are Batang Lupar Bridge 1, Sg Krian Bridge and Kuala Saribas Bridge 2.



Once completed, the Batang Lupar Bridge 1 will be the longest inland bridge in Malaysia with a total length of almost 5km, which will cost almost RM1 billion to complete. The iconic bridge will touch on two tiny islands situated at the middle of Batang Lupar river mouth.

After we left Sebuyau Town, we head off to Pusa and eventually had our second stopover at Sarikei.

An urgent need of proper signboards along the Sarawak Coastal Road

Along the way, what we observed that there was lack of proper signboards that would provide crucial information to motorists who may not know the exact direction of their destinations. As such it is hoped that the relevant authorities will erect proper signboards at strategic locations along the coastal road.


Aggressive rural development policy under PCDS 2030

Under the leadership of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Openg, Sarawak has invested billions of ringgit on infrastructure especially on roads and bridges in Sarawak. This will ensure that Sarawak will attain developed status by 2030 as envisioned under the Post Covid Development Strategy 2030.

Conclusion

Despite the incessant rainfall, we were still able to accomplish our mission to produce our daily travelogue and reach our destination safely.