Telang Usan rep urges Ahmad Zahid to fulfil logging road upgrade promise

MIRI (Oct 21): Telang Usan assemblyman Dato Dennis Ngau has called on Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to fulfil his promise to upgrade logging roads in rural areas across Sarawak, including Baram.

Dennis made this call in response to the announcement of an increased allocation in next year’s Budget for rural development, tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Parliament last Friday.

“This is to ensure that rural areas in the state, especially Baram, can develop at the same pace as other parts of Sarawak, improving accessibility and quality of life for the people living there,” Dennis told The Borneo Post today.

In September last year, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, announced in his winding up speech in the Dewan Rakyat that more than 500 kilometres of logging roads in Sarawak, particularly in rural areas, would be maintained and upgraded.

He also announced an allocation of RM331 million for the upgrading and maintenance of logging roads in rural Sarawak, stating that work should begin immediately to ensure that rural residents could return to their longhouses by Christmas of last year.

However, Dennis claimed that the promise to repair the roads has not been fulfilled.

“The people of Baram are still relying on logging roads, which are dangerous and often become impassable due to the rainy season.

“I urge the Deputy Prime Minister to visit Baram and see the condition of the roads for himself, to ensure that his promise is honoured,” he said.

Regarding the just-tabled Budget 2025, Dennis expressed satisfaction with the increased budget for rural development.

The Rural and Regional Development Ministry will receive RM11.9 billion, an increase of RM457 million compared to last year’s budget.

Meanwhile, Sabah and Sarawak will receive development allocations of RM6.7 billion and RM5.9 billion, respectively.

“I do, however, hope that a portion of this allocation will be channelled toward the development of rural areas, especially in Baram,” Dennis said.