PKR Sarawak wants comprehensive road infrastructure reforms in rural areas

MIRI (Aug 29): Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak calls for fresh approach and comprehensive infrastructure development in the rural areas of Sarawak with proper planning to be carried out immediately.

This requires strong political will of the federal and Sarawak governments to spend more on developing good road infrastructure to link every village and new tourist attractions in the interior of the state.

Its Sarawak chairman Roland Engan said this in turn will boost connectivity and growth of rural economy which is based on agriculture, freshwater aquaculture and tourism.

He believes that this can be done by allocating funds from the new sources of revenue for Sarawak derived from its oil and gas resources following the return of autonomy and rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

“The legacy of the previous regime’s ‘development politics’ policy that made logging companies or palm oil plantation companies use their corporate social responsibility to build red soil access roads to villages located in forest concessions or near palm oil plantations must end right away.

“This is the era of Malaysia Madani. Road infrastructure development is the responsibility of the federal government and the Sarawak government,” he stressed in a statement.

Roland suggested it is time to consider the idea of the government giving concessions to private companies to build roads by charging tolls like in Peninsular Malaysia as Sarawak moves forward.

“Are the people ready to accept toll roads? For the sake of the people’s comfort, it will be likely accepted sooner or later,” he said.

He also said based on the feedback from various parties, the federal government, Sarawak government and the private sector must immediately review the long-term planning for road development throughout Sarawak and address the high vehicle maintenance costs borne by Sarawakians in rural areas.

Asserting that the task of building access roads to rural villages lies with the government and not logging companies and oil palm plantation companies, he said currently, rural roads are not for the people but mainly for the transportation of logs and palm fruits.

“These access roads will be abandoned and damaged after logging activities are over. Therefore, road infrastructure development reforms must be implemented immediately. All road development efforts must be taken over by the government,” he stressed.

Roland also called on Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) and its agencies to accelerate the momentum of development for the benefit of all Sarawakians.