By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 13: Residents in the interior of Baram are set to benefit from improved road connectivity, with about 2,700 kilometres of logging roads in the division included in Sarawak’s plan to take over more than 7,000 kilometres of such roads across the State.
In a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news, Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Datuk Gerawat Gala said the Baram portion forms a significant part of the network, which serves as the main lifeline for communities in the interior.
He said the takeover would allow these roads to be systematically maintained, repaired and upgraded in phases using MARRIS allocations from the federal government.
“We are very grateful when the Premier of Sarawak announced that the Sarawak government has made the decision to take over all logging roads in Sarawak, involving more than 7,000 kilometres.
“Of that total, 2,700 kilometres are in the Baram Division. Once these roads are gazetted as State roads, we are eligible to receive MARRIS funds for maintenance, repair, and phased upgrading,” he said.
He said this after leading a courtesy visit by 27 community leaders (KMKK) from several sub-districts in Baram together with the Sarawak Kelabit Association to the Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex today.
Gerawat said the communities also expressed appreciation to the Sarawak Premier and the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government for various development initiatives in Bario, including 24-hour electricity supply, improved telecommunications and internet access, and clean water supply.
He added that among the key requests raised was the upgrading of the logging road from Lapok town to Bario, which links more than 100 longhouses in the interior.
He also said the Kelabit community called for the revitalisation of the Bario rice industry through modernisation and mechanisation to boost production of the renowned specialty rice, which is still largely cultivated using traditional methods.
Gerawat, who is also Mulu assemblyman, said Premier had shared several modern approaches to rice cultivation being implemented in other parts of Sarawak that have significantly improved yields.
The community also proposed the creation of a Temenggong post for the Kelabit, similar to other Orang Ulu groups such as the Lun Bawang, Bisaya and Penan. — DayakDaily
