By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, May 23: The Sarawak government is planning to take over former logging roads and wooden bridges in rural areas as part of efforts to improve connectivity and infrastructure for longhouse communities, clinics and schools.
Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development (Infrastructure Development), Datuk Aidel Lariwoo said there are 5,297km of logging roads connecting settlements in rural areas across Sarawak to date.
Of this, 3,293km are still active, while 2,004km are no longer in use.
“The former logging roads and wooden bridges that require urgent repairs or are of high importance can be considered as proposed projects under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP),” he said when responding to a question raised by Nicholas Kudi Jantai (PRS-Baleh) during the question-and-answer session at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) sitting here today.
In response to a supplementary question from Kudi regarding the direction of the government in addressing abandoned logging roads in Kapit and how they could be maintained, Aidel said proactive measures are being taken.
The government, he said, has begun registering former logging roads under the Malaysian Road Records Information System (MARRIS), which enables these roads to be maintained using MARRIS allocations, in accordance with guidelines from the Ministry of Finance (MOF).
“For Baleh, a total of 312.8km of former logging roads have been registered under the Village Roads Maintenance Committee (JKPG),” he revealed.
Among the registered roads under MARRIS in the Kapit Division are:
* Ex-logging road to Tunoh Scheme, Bukit Mabong
* Ex-logging road from Jalan Jiwa Murni to Pasir Nai/Nanga Pelagus
* Ex-logging road from Jalan Mantan Kem to Long Busang, Bukit Mabong
* Ex-logging road from Jalan Kem Rose to Long Unai, Bukit Mabong
* Ex-logging road from Tunoh to Kampung Sang Anau, Bukit Mabong
* Road from Baleh HEP Road to Ulu Sungai Paku, Majau, Melinau, Bukit Mabong
* Road from Lusong Laku to Naha Jaley and Long Kabuho, Belaga
* Road to Long Jawe, Belaga
* Road from Tegulang to Lusong Laku, Belaga
Aidel further explained that roads not yet registered under MARRIS remain the responsibility of logging concession companies. As of February 2025, there are 13,687.9km of such roads under both Forest Timber Licences (8,553km) and Licensed Planted Forests (5,134.9km), with 1,172.6km still actively in use.
Some of the active logging roads identified in Kapit include:
* Road from Nanga Tulie to Nanga Pelagus
* Jalan Pila, Batang Rajang
* Jalan Lepong Balleh/Rimbunan Hijau to Rumah Rachman
* Road from Nanga Sekerangan to Nanga Ramong
* Road from Nanga Kain/Gaat to Entawau, Baleh
* Jalan Balak to Nanga Sipuh, Mujong
* Jalan Balak from Jiwa Murni Road to Emperan Jaong, Mujong
* Jalan Balak from Jiwa Murni Road to Kerangan Bangat/Pulau Raya, Pelagus
* Jalan Balak Sungai Iran Camp
* Jalan Balak Ulu Sungai Janan/Ng Lajan/Kem Ta Ann
* Jalan Hulu Sungai Balui, Bukit Mabong
* Jalan Serangkang Tunoh/Sempili, Bukit Mabong
* Jalan Kem Sempili, Bukit Mabong
* Jalan Ulu Sungai Majau to Kem Garu, Bukit Mabong
* Jalan Balak to Rumah Mesop
* Jalan to Ulu Sungai Belawai
* Jalan to Rumah Ringga, Ulu Sungai Belawai
* Jalan Semarakan to Punan Bah (Jalan Jiwa Murni), Belaga
* Jalan to Tegulang Murum Resettlement Scheme, Belaga
* Jalan to Tegulang/Long Abit/Long Kajang/Long Tanyit/Long Lidem, Belaga
* Jalan to Uma Seping, Long Bala, Sungai Asap, Belaga
* Jalan to Long Bangan/Data Kakus, Belaga
Aidel said the government also plans to take over 188km of former logging roads and the wooden bridges along these routes.
For the second supplementary question, Aidel reiterated that once the roads are registered under MARRIS, financial allocations can be secured for maintenance, either under State roads (Jalan Raya Negeri) or village roads (JKPG), depending on the specified criteria. – DayakDaily
