Answer for Oral Question PL287

QUESTION

Yang Berhormat Awang Haji Md. Salleh bin Haji Othman

YANG BERHORMAT AWANG HAJI MD. SALLEH BIN HAJI OTHMAN asks the MINISTER OF DEVELOPMENT to state whether the Ministry of Development will continue the road construction plan from Kampong Kuala Balai to Mukim Labi that was previously raised in the Legislative Council session before this? What is the latest status regarding its implementation?

ANSWER

Yang Berhormat Menteri Pembangunan

Thank you Yang Berhormat Yang Di Pertua. Thank you also to Yang Berhormat Awang Haji Md. Salleh bin Haji Othman for the question regarding the construction of the road from Kampong Kuala Balai to Mukim Labi.

The Ministry of Development constantly examines the needs of infrastructure projects based on priority and the current level of need, especially in inland areas, to ensure continuity of access and the safety of road users.

Based on the assessment of priorities and needs at this time, the proposed construction of the road from Kampong Kuala Balai to Mukim Labi has not yet been able to be implemented.

To ensure that access between these two areas is not cut off, the Ministry of Development through the Public Works Department's Roads Department has carried out road maintenance works in the inland areas of Belait District as follows:

1. Term Contract for levelling damaged roads in Mukim Bukit Sawat which commenced on 28 April 2025 and will be completed on 27 October 2025;
2. Term Contract for levelling damaged roads in Mukim Sukang which commenced on 28 April 2025 and will be completed on 27 October 2025;
3. Term Contract for levelling damaged roads in Mukim Melilas which commenced on 28 April 2025 and will be completed on 27 October 2025;
4. Road Raising Project in Flood Area Zone A, Jalan Labi (Kampung Sungai Mau, Kampung Bukit Puan, Beluhur and Kampung Sungai Petai) which was completed in September 2024;
5. Road Raising Project in Flood Area Zone B, (Jalan Laid Lakang, Simpang 1366 Merangking Hilir, Jalan Utama Merangking Hilir, road leading to Sungai Kagu Bridge and Jalan Kandul) which was completed in May 2025;
6. Jalan Singap Upgrading Project, Bukit Sawat which commenced in January 2025 and is expected to be completed in January 2026; and
7. Repair works for damaged roads in several sections in Kuala Balai through a term contract which were completed on 16 June 2025.

Apart from the projects implemented above, the Public Works Department also has plans to implement road maintenance projects as follows:

1. Road Maintenance in Mukim Kuala Balai in stages according to priority;
2. Addressing road damage in Mukim Bukit Sawat through the Projek Membaiki dan Melapis Semula Jalan-Jalan Aspal (Lebuhraya / Jalan Utama / Jalan Kampung / Jalan Simpang / Perumahan Negara / Pejabat Kerajaan / Komersial) - Pakej 7: Daerah Belait under RKN 12, for which the tender closed on 24 December 2024 and is currently awaiting approval from the State Tender Board;
3. Road Stabilisation Works at Jalan Merangking, Belait District which is awaiting approval and is expected to commence in August this year;
4. Road Stabilisation Works at Jalan Sukang, Belait District which is awaiting approval and is also expected to commence in August this year;
5. Jalan Biadong Upgrading Project, Mukim Sukang which is expected to commence in September 2025.

Further, the Public Works Department will also continue routine works such as grass cutting, roadside drain cleaning, repair of potholes / damaged roads, as well as cleaning and replacement of road safety signs.

Apart from road maintenance works, the Public Works Department has also carried out and will carry out slope rehabilitation works in the Ulu Belait interior as follows:

1. Slope Failure Along Road Embankment – Jalan Merangking KM27, Mukim Bukit Sawat which commenced in February 2025 and will be completed in December 2025;
2. Slope Failure Along Road Embankment – Jalan Buau KM 6.2 & 6.6, Mukim Sukang which was completed in May 2025;
3. Slope Failure Along Road Embankment – Jalan Kargu KM 5.3 and 5.9, Mukim Bukit Sawat which was completed in November 2024;
4. Slope Failure Along Road Embankment – Jalan Buau KM 5.8, Mukim Sukang which commenced in January 2025 and will be completed in January 2026;
5. Slope Failure Along Road Embankment – Jalan Merangking KM 21.6 and KM 23 which commenced in January 2025 and will be completed in October 2025;
6. Slope Failure Along Road Embankment – Jalan Melilas KM 7.1, Mukim Sukang for which the tender was opened on 30 July 2025 and will close on 26 August 2025;
7. Slope Repair Works at Jalan Merangking KM 27.1, Mukim Bukit Sawat for which an application for new allocation is currently being submitted;
8. Slope Repair Works at Jalan Merangking KM 28, Mukim Bukit Sawat for which an application for new allocation is currently being submitted; and
9. Slope Repair Works at Jalan Melilas KM 1, Mukim Sukang for which an application for new allocation is currently being submitted.

Although the proposal for the new road cannot yet be implemented at this time, the Ministry of Development continues to pay attention to the existing roads in the inland areas so that they remain safe and usable through the implementation of continuous maintenance and repair works.

Yang Berhormat Yang Di-Pertua, that is all the answer that Kaola is able to convey regarding the question from Yang Berhormat Awang Haji Md. Salleh bin Haji Othman. Thank you.