New Kpg Kudei Dungun plank walkway safer, more accessible for residents, says deputy minister (Video)

KUCHING (Jan 6): The new plank walkway in Kampung Kudei Dungun has significantly improved safety and accessibility for its residents, said Deputy Minister of Utility (Sarawak Energy and Petros) Datuk Ibrahim Baki.

He said the Rural Transformation Project (RTP) project benefitted about 140 households and some 500 residents there, and was carried out in two phases with a total allocation of RM530,000.

“Alhamdulillah, today (Jan 6) the residents here are happy because they no longer have to worry about safety hazards, especially for their children who go to school and need to cross this walkway.

“Previously, there were occasions where people fell because the planks were very soft. Now, the planks have been arranged more securely and are expected to last for a long period, possibly up to 20 years,” he said during a site visit yesterday.

Ibrahim, who is also the Satok assemblyman, explained that Phase One of the project began in February 2023 after the village received RM250,000 under the RTP.

Phase One involved demolishing old and unsafe planks, cleaning the site, and constructing a new section of the walkway and was completed by July 2023.

As for Phase Two, it involved RM280,000 and covered an additional stretch of 180 metres of the walkway. Construction for Phase Two began in July 2025 and was completed in two months.

“In total, the new walkway spans 360 metres with a width of approximately 1.2 metres. Belian wood was used for the project to ensure durability, despite the higher cost,” he said.

He added the project reflected the government’s continued commitment to improving basic infrastructure and quality of life in rural and semi-rural areas across Sarawak.