Huang urges reconstruction of Sungai Lepong Bridge

The Sarawak government has been urged to reconstruct Sungai Lepong Bridge in Sarikei to improve connectivity and ensure safer, more efficient access for rural communities.

Repok assemblyman Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii said the existing 28-metre-long and 4.2-metre-wide bridge, built in 1990, is no longer adequate to meet current needs.

He said the bridge served as an important route for 16 longhouses and a primary school.

“Bridges are vital links for Sarikei residents, not only for their daily activities but also for the smooth movement of goods and services,” he said when debating the Supply (2027) Bill, 2026, during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today (Oct 14).

He stressed that a safe and reliable bridge is essential to ensure rural communities could access services efficiently as their needs continue to grow.

Huang also called for improved telecommunications coverage in Sarikei, particularly in remote areas where longhouses and villages continued to experience weak or unstable mobile phone and internet signals.

He welcomed the Sarawak government’s allocation of RM309 million under alternative funding for the construction of SMART telecommunications towers next year, saying the initiative would help strengthen digital connectivity across the state.

He said reliable telecommunications infrastructure was increasingly important as the government, businesses and industries adopted digital technologies.

To address the connectivity gap in rural Sarikei, he urged the government to prioritise improvements to broadband capacity and expand coverage through modern technologies, including 5G.

He said better connectivity would help rural communities gain greater access to markets and economic opportunities, enabling them to participate more fully in Sarawak’s digital economy.