KUCHING: Major road maintenance work, including lane closures along the Pan Borneo Highway, will be suspended from Mar 24 to Apr 7 to ease traffic congestion during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festive season.
Public Works Department (PWD) director Dr Cassidy Morris said the move aligns with a directive from Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi to halt all highway lane closures during the festive period.
However, minor repair works that do not cause significant disruptions will still be permitted.
“We do not allow any major road maintenance work during festive seasons. Our officials and coordinators have been instructed to ensure no large-scale repairs are carried out during this time,” he said during an engagement session with Sarawak media practitioners at Imperial Hotel on Monday (Mar 25).
Dr Cassidy also highlighted the department’s efforts to strengthen collaboration with the media to ensure accurate updates on infrastructure projects across the state.
“Our partnership with the media has been instrumental in keeping the public informed about our ongoing projects, and we appreciate their role in raising awareness,” he said.
He noted the success of PWD’s new slogan, ‘We Build For You’, which gained widespread attention in a short period, showcasing the media’s effectiveness in disseminating information.
To enhance communication, PWD has also established an official WhatsApp group to provide verified updates.
Dr Cassidy encouraged media practitioners to source information directly from PWD’s official channels, including the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (UKAS), to prevent misinformation.
He also welcomed suggestions for live-streaming sessions and other initiatives to improve public engagement.
