State govt urged to get public input on Baram development

Roland Engan

By Jaythaleela K

MIRI, June 17: PKR Baram welcomes the announcement of the proposed new link road between Miri and Marudi by Marudi assemblyman Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil in response to its chief, Roland Engan who highlighted the frequent soil erosion behind damage to parts of the present Miri-Marudi Road.

A local daily reported Penguang’s announcement earlier today.

The Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Baram chief asserted it is the wishes of the Baram people and road users for the state government to have a concrete master plan for the public to view and give feedback.

“It is important for the public to participate in giving input to the entire development plan of Baram (as the) proposed 13th Division of Sarawak,” he added.

Meanwhile, Roland opined, the government by now should reveal to the public by official notification on whether the present Miri-Marudi road is a “JPJ gazetted road” which requires traffic rules to be strictly adhered to, as the presence of heavy vehicles with high speed without a proper monitoring system seems to endanger smaller vehicles all the time.

“There also several unanswered questions which the state government should answer soonest possible, such as whether the Miri-Marudi road falls under Marudi District Council or Miri City Council jurisdiction (or both); whether the Miri-Marudi road is maintained by JKR (Public Works Department) Sarawak, Marudi District Council or any other contractor directly appointed by the state government?” he highlighted.

“The answers to the above questions will help to carify the actual status of the Miri-Marudi road and also to clarify whether the road was worth (it to be) constructed for the benefit of the Baram people in the first place in the midst of the new proposed link road as announced by the Marudi assemblyman.” — DayakDaily