KUCHING: The very remote Sarawak population particularly in the constituency of Telang Usan, and Mulu and part of Marudi have been hoping all this while for better road connectivity than the current dirt and uneven logging roads.
Telang Usan Assemblyman, Dennis Ngau said, “People readily accept even gravel type of road, of course to start with. What we need is as long as these roads could be used and not affected by weather conditions such as being slippery and impassable during wet session and dusty and very dangerous during dry days.
“We hope our prayer is answered , though slowly with some upgrading of ex logging roads here and there in the two constituencies,” he said in his speech in support of the motion of thanks on Yang Terutama Di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud at the State Legislative Assembly sitting here on Wednesday.
According to him, the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKLW) has spent RM69 million to upgrade 150Km of ex logging roads to more than 20 longhouses in Telang Usan and Mulu constituencies.
He said another RM52 million is now being spent by KKLW to upgrade another 108Km ex logging roads in Telang Usan and Mulu to provide connectivity to some more longhouses.
These roads will also be handed over to Public Works Department (JKR) for maintenance after completion, he added.
“Another RM70 million is going to be spent by KKLW to upgrade another 199Km of ex logging roads in Telang Usan and Mulu constituencies. These roads will also be handed to JKR for maintenance upon completion.”
“In total KKLW would have spent RM191 million to upgrade 377Km ex logging road in both Telang Usan and Mulu constituency. These roads have been handed to JKR Sarawak for maintenance but we understand JKR do not have allocation for maintenance of these roads,” explained him.
Moreover, he said that without clear government policy on maintenance of these roads, and the resulting passing of the buck between the relevant government departments, these roads will not be maintained.
“Over time the condition of these roads will deteriorate to such an extent that the cost to repair or restoring these roads including bridges will be astronomical. Our people who depend on this road as their only access to town will suffer serious consequences oif these roads are not maintained,” he said.
Dennis stressed that the above amount mentioned spent for upgrading of road in Ulu Baram sound huge but in fact the amount is just like a drop of water in the ocean.
“Surely it must be the government long term plan to further upgrade these roads to concrete or tar road to ensure continuous and long term benefit for our rural and very rural population which is an affirmation of the government’s policy of focusing on rural development to reduce the gap between rural or very rural and urban development,” he said.
