Travelogue Day 9: Reaching our destination - Lawas

SSLR1 in progress

After nine days on the road, we finally reached our destination, Lawas, the northern most town of Sarawak. The feeling of reaching Lawas by road is indeed fulfilling each time we have the opportunity as it is quite a challenge driving all the way from the south to the north of the State.

The location of Lawas is indeed very unique, very similar to Limbang as they both lie right between Brunei’s two territories.

With the current road infrastructure, it is more convenient for Sarawakians living in Lawas to travel to Kota Kinabalu (KK) than to Miri. This is because if one were to travel from Lawas to Miri, one would have to enter Brunei twice at Tamburung’s customs and immigration complex (CIQ) in order to enter Limbang and from Limbang once again, one must pass through Brunei at Pandaruan CIQ and exit at Sg Tujuh CIQ in order to reach Miri. Whereas if one were to drive from Lawas to KK, it would only take about three hours, without the hassle of passing through another country.

However, this hassle will be over by 2030 when both the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road (SSLR1) and SSLR2 are expected to be completed. When both projects are completed, the drive from Miri to Limbang and Lawas would be seamless as one would not need to pass to Brunei anymore.

RM15 billion will be needed to complete both SSLR and NCH

Concurrently, the Regional Corridor of Development Authority (Recoda) via the Northern Corridor of Development Agency (NRDA) is constructing the 89-km, four-lane dual carriageway Northern Coastal Highway (NCH), that would connect Miri through Brunei right up to Limbang and Lawas. The project is expected to cost RM6.8 billion has begun last year and is expected to be completed by 2029. This project not only will provide alternative road for those living in Limbang and Lawas but will also provide a smoother drive from Miri to Brunei and Sabah.

In total, the Sarawak State government will spend about RM15 billion to complete the SSLR1 and SSLR2, which cost more than RM8 billion and the NCH. The massive road projects will provide the vital links from Miri to both Limbang and Lawas.

Opinion of a prominent leader on the needs of better road connectivity

Barry Baru Sigar

According to a Lun Bawang lawyer from Ba Kelalan who currently works in Limbang, Barry Baru Sigar, the SSLR road will provide a free flow of movement between Miri, Limbang, Lawas and Sipitang, in Sabah and Long Semadoh-Long Pa’ Sia in the interior of northern Sarawak.

“The existing movement through Brunei is cumbersome as we must use travel documents. This is not a free movement as a country. Brunei has proven that rules of another country is fixed and not flexible and must be complied with and nothing can be done about it. Like now, the border posts with Brunei opens at 6 am and closes 10 pm except during certain occasions and festivals, it may close at 12 pm,” Barry told Kembara Ukas team here today.

He added that the SSLR will create free movements between Miri-Limbang-Lawas and Sabah especially in terms of road transportation at any time, especially during emergencies.

Tempting hot coffee served at Sipitang, Sabah, which is just a stone away from the Sarawak border post with Sabah.

“Transportation of basic needs, food, building or construction materials for social, health, agriculture or any government planned projects like building communication towers where massive materials are needed.

“The SSLR will also open new areas for agriculture development especially in the highlands if there are better road connections. This will create the ability for us to introduce crops suitable for the climatic conditions like cabbages and strawberries, which are found to be growing well in cooler climate in our highlands.

“These activities can be made possible only with road connectivity which can improve the local economy. This includes the promotion of tourism industries, to cater for both locals and international tourists,” stressed Barry.

He added that currently, accessibility is problematic as it affects time, itinerary and travel plans.

A majestic and iconic new Limbang bridge, currently still under construction, will provide between connectivity to Lawas.

“Easy accessibility between regions can promote goodwill between neighbours and networking among different racial or ethnic groups that can lead to better understanding of people of different races and cultures,” he said.

Barry added that with better road connectivity, it would promote commercial, social and cultural interaction between communities, people and nations.

“These initiatives are all credited to our leaders and to our Premier Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Openg who places the priorities right, especially on road development at the forefront for the whole State,” Barry reiterated.

Conclusion

Upon reaching Lawas, we clocked in almost 2,000km. That distance includes meandering through the various major towns and settlements along the coastal road from Telok Melano.

It is hoped that with the completion of the all the bridges especially along the coastal road in the central region and with the completion of the SSLR by 2030, Sarawak would have a new image where accessibility will be the norm, as there will be no more barriers for motorists plying the whole of Sarawak from the north to the south and vice versa.

Ends/…