KUCHING: The federal government has set aside RM5.5 billion for the Sarawak-Sabah link road that connects Long Lama to Lawas, at a distance of 415km, bypassing Brunei.

Works Minister Baru Bian said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has approved the project which is set to benefit about one million people in the northern region of Sarawak.

“The first package of the project, from Lawas to Long Sukang (and) to Long Lopeng and to Kampung Pa’ Berunut – at an estimated cost of RM1.18 billion – would probably be completed in three years.

“If we have the means, we can do it (in) one go. But for now, we are constrained by finance, so we will do it in packages. I want to ensure that it (Sarawak-Sabah link road) will be constructed.

“In fact, that is one of the things that I hope to see because it would really benefit our people,” he said during an interview with The Borneo Post, Utusan Borneo and See Hua Daily News, here yesterday.

Baru, who is Selangau MP and also Ba Kelalan assemblyman, pointed out that once the link road is ready, travellers in the region would be saved from the hassle of going through Brunei.

At present, Sarawakians travelling from Lawas to Miri have to bring along their passport since they need to go through Brunei.

“The prime minister was happy when I suggested (the construction of the Sarawak-Sabah link road) earlier. He said ‘go ahead’.”

The Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak chairman believed the new connectivity will open up both Sarawak and Sabah to economic and tourism development, but stressed that once road connectivity is put in place, the people there ought to be provided with telecommunication services.

“Once you have these two connectivity (roads and telecommunication services), I believe our people don’t need to travel down to Marudi, Miri and other towns to sell their goods.”

He pointed out that in China, farmers sold their fruits and crops through their mobile phones and the internet – an approach which should be picked up by local farmers in Sarawak.

He said the produce of mainland Chinese farmers would be collected by a collector, who would then deliver the goods to where they needed to be.

“This (concept) is something very interesting. Once you do that for all the people, the world is just at your doorstep.