By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Dec 1: Sarawak needs more than 1,200 kilometres of new roads to achieve full rural connectivity, says Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
He said this finding is based on a lab survey conducted early this year to establish a database on rural connectivity.
“Based on findings of the lab, a total of 5,833 (94 per cent) out of 6,214 registered settlements in rural areas are connected by road.
“In order to achieve 100 per cent connectivity, we need to construct a total length of about 1,200km of new roads to connect the remaining 381 settlements,” he said during his ministerial winding-up speech in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here today.
Uggah, who is also Deputy Premier of Sarawak, said his ministry and Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak have looked into new approaches to reduce road construction costs.
Among the proposed measures are utilising Front-End Engineering (FEE) funding such as survey works, soil investigation and design; leveraging on low volume rural road designs, and using locally available materials such as river gravel, river sand and sandstones.
“My ministry together with JKR Sarawak will continue to improve the provision of basic infrastructure for the rural population.
“No one shall be marginalised and everyone deserves to enjoy Sarawak’s economic prosperity, sustainable environment and social inclusivity,” he said. — DayakDaily
