Kapit District Council seeks bigger budget to serve 135,000 residents across remote districts

Andy (fifth right) leading the Kapit District Council delegation to pay a courtesy visit on Dr Sim at his ministry on April 7, 2026.

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, April 7: Kapit District Council (KDC) has proposed a revision of its councillors’ budget to ensure equitable service delivery and effective governance for the people of Kapit Division, which oversees a population of about 135,000.

The proposal comes amid concerns that the council’s current allocation does not reflect the scale and complexity of its administrative responsibilities.

A KDC delegation, led by chairman Ir Andy Lawrence, paid a courtesy visit to Deputy Premier and Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, to discuss the challenges faced by the council, including its annual budget constraints and shortage of technical staff.

“KDC administers a vast and complex area covering four districts of Kapit, Belaga, Bukit Mabong, and Song, and two sub-districts of Merit and Sungai Asap, spanning approximately 38,934 square kilometres.

“Despite its extensive jurisdiction, KDC currently receives the same annual councillor allocation as councils overseeing far smaller areas, highlighting a mismatch between resources and responsibilities,” Andy said in a statement today.

Using a data-driven projection model that factors in area (60 per cent), district complexity (25 per cent), and population (15 per cent), he emphasised that KDC has identified the need for a revised allocation that better reflects the real cost of governance in rural and logistically challenging regions.

“This includes extensive river and terrain travel, frequent overnight field operations, service delivery to remote longhouse communities, and coordination across multiple districts and elected representatives,” he added.

Andy stressed that the proposed revision would help ensure equitable service delivery and more effective governance for Kapit Division residents.

Also present at the meeting were deputy chairman Martin Bilun, secretary Cindy Ann Robert, and head of affairs unit Caroline Lenya. — DayakDaily