Bridges alone won’t ensure real rural development in Sarawak, says PKR man

MIRI (March 27): The construction of 29 bridge projects across Sarawak should not be seen as a comprehensive solution to rural development, said Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak vice president Roland Engan.

While acknowledging the efforts by the Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak in implementing the projects in areas such as Kuching, Serian, Sibu, Kapit and Miri, he stressed that infrastructure development must go beyond building and upgrading bridges.

“Efforts to build or upgrade bridges alone are insufficient if the government continues to maintain logging policies in inland areas,” he said in a statement.

Engan pointed out that policies such as “zero logging” should be considered to ensure that infrastructure projects genuinely benefit local communities, rather than serving the operational needs of logging companies.

“Without a clear policy direction, these bridges risk becoming main routes for industrial interests instead of functioning as basic infrastructure to improve access to education, healthcare and daily economic activities for the people,” he added.

He also called for greater accountability among long-term License for Planted Forests (LPF) holders, noting that many rural residents still rely on poorly maintained logging roads.

According to him, some logging companies have imposed usage fees or “tolls” on these roads, including for transporting construction materials to project sites.

“This practice places an additional burden on the people and must be stopped immediately to ensure that development in rural Sarawak is carried out effectively,” he said.

Engan further urged both the Sarawak and Federal governments to adopt a more comprehensive approach to developing rural areas, which he described as “long neglected”.

He emphasised that appointed contractors must be competent and reliable to prevent projects from becoming “sick projects” and instead deliver tangible benefits to local communities.

“Bridge and road projects must not be merely symbolic, but should ease daily movement and open up economic opportunities for rural residents,” he said.

In addition, he proposed the establishment of a special body to continuously monitor and audit government projects in rural Sarawak to prevent leakages and ensure good governance.

“Ultimately, development projects must prioritise the convenience and well-being of the people, not merely the profits and continuity of business operations,” he added.