Sarawak begins countdown to the New Year... and end of toll collection!

For the first time, there will be a grand-scale New Year celebration here, with simultaneous countdown to the end of toll collection in Sarawak.

Acting State Secretary Datuk Misnu Taha said the momentous occasion would be celebrated with much colour and merriment at midnight on Dec 31 (New Year's eve), where toll collection at Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Bridge in Petra Jaya, here, would cease, hence no more toll collection in Sarawak.

He said the public were invited to join the celebration which would start at 9pm at the grounds of the toll plaza, with a stage show and fireworks display to mark the occasion.

Speaking to reporters after looking at the preparations at the toll plaza grounds today, he said Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem was expected to be present at the celebration.

Misnu said about 10,000 were expected to throng the celebration site that night.

The stage show will feature local artistes as well as well-known ones like Datuk Jamal Abdillah, Dayang Nurfaizah and Amir Ukays.

Misnu said the main road heading to the toll plaza would be closed to traffic from as early as 6pm to facilitate the holding of the celebration.

The rehearsal for the celebration will be held on Dec 29.

In his winding-up speech at the state assembly sitting recently, Adenan announced the abolishment of toll collection at the Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Bridge at midnight this Dec 31, thus keeping his promise to end toll collection in Sarawak.

Prior to this, the state government ceased toll collection at Lanang Bridge, Sibu, in May and at the ASEAN Baram Bridge in June.

For the record, toll collection at Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Bridge, which connects Kuching city to Petra Jaya, started in 2003.