Gerawat: Devt projects in pipeline for villages, Penan settlements in Ulu Baram

MIRI (Feb 7): Several development projects are being planned this year for a number of villages and Penan settlements in Ulu Baram as part of the state government’s continued efforts to bridge the development gap between urban and rural areas, said Datuk Gerawat Gala.

The Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) said projects in the pipeline include the upgrading of the Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) building in Long Jekitan, the construction of a steel bridge across Sungai Teba’u, as well as slope repair and road improvement works by the Public Works Department (JKR) in the Jekitan area.

“In addition, the government is planning to construct bridges across Sungai Silat and Sungai Jekitan and to build a telecommunications tower in Ba Purau,” he said in a statement posted on his official Facebook page on Friday.

The Mulu assemblyman said he was scheduled to visit Long Jekitan on Friday but was forced to turn back for safety reasons after being informed of a technical issue with the aircraft that required repairs.

As a result, he said the Highland Development Agency (HDA) regional director Juan Ubit represented him during the visit.

Gerawat said the visit was aimed at monitoring development projects in Long Jekitan and the Silat area, including completed projects and those currently under implementation.

“These include the HDA road upgrading project to Long Jekitan, in-village concrete roads implemented by the JKKK, a new community hall, a clean water supply project by HDA, the steel bridge across Sungai Sengayan by the Public Works Department (JKR) and the provision of roofing materials and toilets to several villages in the Jekitan area,” he said.

He pointed out that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government, under the leadership of Premier Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, remained committed to delivering continuous development to Ulu Baram.

“I appreciate the support shown by the Penan community in Baram, who have expressed their readiness to work directly with the government for the well-being of the people,” he said.

Gerawat stressed that only the GPS government is capable of bringing development such as roads, clean water supply, electricity, telecommunications and internet services to the interior.

“The strong support of the people over the years has yielded tangible results,” he added.