Travelogue Day 11: Gedong – where our journey ends and a new frontier begin


After 14 days on the road, we are finally heading to Gedong, where we will end our Kembara Ukas - Demi Rakyat odyssey finally ends. The Kembara Ukas - Demi Rakyat, is an inaugural initiative made by UKAS to touch base with the realities on the ground, focusing mainly on infrastructure in coastal areas. And getting feedback to be shared with our readers.

From the first day we camped at Telok Melano on March 8^th and our subsequent flagged off the next day by Deputy Minister in the premier’s Department (Corporate Affairs, Information and UKAS) Datuk Abdullah Saidol, we have traversed the length and width of our whole State.


Gedong: The new frontier

Gedong is now the new frontier for Sarawak as it will be the next hub of economic development taking place. Ever since Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Openg was elected as its assemblyman in 2021, Gedong is slowly and surely becoming the new economic nerve in Sarawak.

Gedong, a sleepy fisherman village, located on the riverbank of the Sadong River is poised to be well connected and well developed in the next decade or so.

As has been announced, Gedong will be well connected in the very near future through a dual carriageway from Rayang, which is connected to the Pan Borneo Highway, not far from Serian.

Gedong will also be connected by major road to the proposed Tanjung Embang Port and airport, which will be implemented in next five years. The colossal project is expected to cost a staggering RM100 billion.

Currently, several large-scale projects are already in motion, including the construction of a new mosque, an Integrated Administrative Centre, and a community hub. These facilities will be located across from Gedong town and are expected to significantly elevate the quality life for the local residents.

The implementation of several highway development packages that are poised to enhance connectivity and economic activity across the region. Key components include a new four-lane highway with a dedicated Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) route connecting Serian, Munggu Kupi, Isthmus, and Goebilt via Tanjung Embang.

With large-scale infrastructure, economic initiatives, and community-focused facilities underway, Gedong is poised to become a vibrant, modern, and connected district within Sarawak’s development framework.

Areas we have covered

Recapping our journey, we have passed through all the cities and mots of major towns and settlements in Sarawak. From Telok Melano, we have traversed through Sematan, Lundu, Kuching, Kota Samarahan, Asajaya, Sebuyau, Meludam, Pusa, Sarikei, Tanjung Manis, Matu, Daro, Dalat, Oya, Mukah, Balingian, Bintulu, Bekenu, Miri, Limbang, Lawas, Sibu, Betong, Sri Aman and Serian.

In total, we have clocked in almost 4,000 km of both coastal road and Pan Borneo Highway.
And we would like to give the credit to JKR Sarawak for giving us the latest statistics of all the 16 bridges along the coastal road, whereby seven of them have been completed, and the remaining nine are on various stages of construction.

And of course, the expectation of the rakyat is that with the completion of all these bridges, the Sarawak coastal will provide a much smoother drive in the very near future. Additionally, with the completion of the Second Trunk Road by 2030, Sarawak will have good road network that will provide alternative routes from the south to the north.

The road network in Sarawak is also being greatly enhanced with the completion of the Pan Borfneo Highway which stretch from Kuching right up to Miri.

And in order provide a comprehensive connectivity to all the towns in Sarawak, the completion of the SSLR is very vital as it will connect Miri to both Limbang and Lawas, by passing Brunei. And with the completion of SSLR, smaller towns and settlements such as Long Lama, Marudi, Mulu, Bario and Ba’Kelalan would finally be completed.

With the completion of these major road network, Sarawak’s next plan is to build the border security road that will connect all the major towns along the border with Kalimantan, from Biawak in the south, that will pass through Tebedu right up to Lubok Antu, Kapit, Belaga, Sg Asap, Long Lama and Marudi in the north.


Conclusion: PCDS 2030 and beyond

In order to complete these road networks, Sarawak greatly need the funds. This is where the Sarawak government needs all the assistance it needs from the federal government so that Sarawak will too be on par with the other more developed states in Peninsular Malaysia.


So far, Sarawak’s plan to implement these road networks are moving on the right direction. Under the present administration of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Openg, he has been efficiently managing the financial resources of Sarawak with great success. So, it’s no exaggeration to say that under his continuous leadership, Sarawak will achieve its vision of a developed status by 2030, through the Post Covid Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.

Under the PCDS 2030, billions would be channelled to ensure that Sarawak is holistically developed, including its human capital development, social inclusivity, modernisation, industrialisation, economic and environmental sustainability and finally having state-of-the-art technology, especially focusing on hydrogen technology.

And it is envisioned that Sarawak beyond 2030 will be a modern, well-informed society and that will be able to compete at the global market through futuristic technological know-hows.

As such, from now onwards, Sarawak will have to focus on political stability which is considered as the key to all its future endeavours.


Ends/….