‘Speed up long-awaited road, water upgrades in Baram interior’

MIRI (Jan 26): The federal government has been urged to expedite the implementation of approved road infrastructure and development projects in the Baram parliamentary constituency, where interior residents have waited for years to benefit from better connectivity and essential amenities.

Baram MP Dato Anyi Ngau highlighted several approved projects, including the Long Jegan–Long Aya’ road in Ulu Tinjar, roads in the Belasoi area, and the clean water supply project in Long Lama.

“These projects have taken far too long and remain unimplemented.

“Even a delay of two or three months is already considered long, but these federal-approved projects have been pending for years,” he said in his debate on the King’s royal address in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday.

On road infrastructure, Anyi noted that about 1,902 kilometres of logging and former logging roads out of nearly 5,000 kilometres in Sarawak require urgent repairs.

He stressed that these roads are vital for residents and government personnel serving in rural areas.

“As such, I appeal for these roads, particularly those in rural areas, to be taken over by the federal government so that the roads and collapsed bridges leading to these areas can be repaired under the Malaysian Road Records Information System (Marris) Fund.

“This is a step towards resolving issues that repeatedly raised year after year whenever Parliament convenes,” he said.

While commending  federal initiatives such as the Rahmah Cash Contribution (STR) and the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) for low-income groups, Anyi urged that assistance for rural residents be increased, citing high transportation costs.

“Many rural recipients need four-wheel-drive vehicles to travel to town, resulting in a  significant portion―or even half―of the aid being spent on transportation,” he added.