(Photo: Attendees of the groundbreaking ceremony walk along the newly cleared stretch. Seen is the concrete barrier previously erected to block Lorong 10. Photo by Kentigern Minggu)

KUCHING (July 6): A new agricultural road at Lorong 10, Kampung Sudat will be constructed, ending the access difficulties faced by 22 landowners in reaching their agricultural land since July 2024.

The problem arose after the owner of a neighbouring five-acre parcel of land, who operates a controlled goods warehouse, blocked the access road with barriers despite the route having been designated as a public access road since the village was first established.

Speaking before the groundbreaking ceremony for the new road yesterday, Batu Kitang assemblyman Dato Lo Khere Chiang said he would apply for funding under the Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) to support the project.

However, he said the application could only be submitted next year as this year’s allocations had already been committed to projects scheduled for implementation in 2027.

“As it is already July, the RTP funding applications submitted this year are for projects to be carried out in 2027.

“Therefore, I can only apply for funding for Lorong 10 next year, with the project expected to be implemented in 2028,” he said.

During a site visit earlier, a stretch of about 200 metres of land adjacent to the blocked Lorong 10, previously covered with vegetation, had already been cleared to make way for the new access road.

Lo said the clearing works were carried out through the collective efforts of the landowners and Kampung Sudat’s committee, an initiative he commended.

Meanwhile, Padawan Municipal Council chairman Tan Kai, who was also present, said the council’s engineering department would conduct a survey and prepare a cost estimate for the project to determine whether funding could be applied for under the BP.1 (minor projects) allocation.

Also present were Sarawak Veterinary Services Department director Datu Dr Adrian Susin Ambud, who facilitated the discussions, and Native Court magistrate Ignatius Melaka Nisau, who assisted in advising on legal matters.

Both are members of the Kampung Sudat community.