Pemanca Umek urges action as Bakun Lake alternative road, jetty remain incomplete after years

A panoramic and serene view of Bakun Lake

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, June 19: The proposed 12km alternative road to Bakun Lake and the accompanying new jetty project have been described as a “very sick project” due to prolonged delays and lack of visible progress on the ground.

Pemanca Umek Jeno, who is also chairman of Lembaga Amanah Komuniti Apau Koyan (LAKAK) and deputy chairman of Balui Lake Native Association, expressed deep concern over the stalled development, saying the project remains incomplete and seemingly abandoned despite being under the SCORE and URDA development frameworks.

“Now is 2026, the project is still incomplete and abandoned just like that. Nothing done on the ground these past two years,” he said in a statement shared with DayakDaily.

Pemanca Umek Jeno

He urged the responsible agencies under the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) and the Upper Rajang Development Agency (URDA) to take immediate action by appointing a competent new contractor to ensure the project is completed without further delay.

“Hope something be done by the agency to appoint a competent new contractor to continue completing the project,” he said.

Umek also noted growing dissatisfaction among local communities affected by the prolonged delay, stressing that residents have seen no tangible progress despite years of announcements and expectations.

The RM47 million road and RM17 million jetty project were initially scheduled for completion in October 2021. However, construction was delayed due to the Movement Control Order (MCO) imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic, which disrupted implementation timelines.

The projects were earlier highlighted by the late Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing as part of the first phase of a broader development plan to transform Bakun Lake into a tourism destination.

A second phase of the development was also previously proposed, which includes public amenities and lock-up shoplots aimed at supporting local economic activity and catering to inland fishermen communities around Bakun.

The new jetty is intended to improve access for inland fishermen in Bakun and Murum, who currently transport their catch to lakeside jetties where buyers from Sibu, Bintulu and Miri collect seafood for wider distribution.

Local leaders say the continued delay risks undermining both economic opportunities and community confidence in rural infrastructure development initiatives. — DayakDaily