SARAWAK must establish a time frame to complete urgent repairs of deteriorating rural facilities, particularly roads and bridges, according to the Society for Rights of Indigenous Peoples of Sarawak (Scrips).
Scrips northern Sarawak coordinator, Michael Ding, highlighted that some bridges are in such a dire state that they are practically unusable, yet no state agency has taken action to repair them. Ding has provided video evidence of these conditions to The Vibes.
"The bridge linking the upper part of Baram district to the Long San settlement is in such poor condition that it poses a danger to vehicles," Ding said. "The planks on the bridge floor are cracking, and no one has inspected the site to assess the situation.
"We frequently hear state politicians claiming they are aware of our problems and securing funds for repairs. What we need is concrete action, not empty promises. A time frame must be set to complete the repair works," he added.
Ding, a native of Baram, which is located in the interior of northern Sarawak, emphasised the urgency of addressing these issues.
Earlier this month, a senior member of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) acknowledged that an increasing number of complaints from rural residents, whose daily lives are disrupted by the poor condition of roads and bridges, are being aired on social media.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah admitted that the state government is aware of these grievances.
"They are voicing their complaints on social media platforms. We, the state government, have allocated funds for urgent repairs, but it is evident that the amount is insufficient.
"For instance, RM5 million was allocated for the repairs of the Sungai Tutoh bridge that had collapsed, but the repairs have not been completed as the funds were inadequate," Uggah said during a briefing with GPA representatives from the districts of Bekenu, Miri, Baram, and Marudi.
Uggah acknowledged that some rural communities remain unconnected by proper roads and bridges, stating that these issues require better planning and implementation.
It has been reported that at least 1,000 kilometres of rural roads in Baram district in northern Sarawak are in terrible condition and require urgent repairs. Mulu state assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala revealed that his office had gathered information on these deteriorating roads.
"These rural road networks, covering at least 1,000 kilometres, were previously used by logging operators. They connect more than 400 longhouses and scattered settlements. As the logging operators have left after completing their operations, these roads are deteriorating," Gala explained.
He has appealed to both the state and federal governments to take immediate measures to repair and upgrade these roads. Gala, who also serves as state deputy minister for project implementation monitoring, noted that several bridges along these routes are also in poor condition.
He said upgrading this infrastructure will require a significant amount of money, and thus, both state and federal governments need to contribute.
The deplorable state of rural public amenities, such as roads and bridges, has been criticised by social and human rights activists, who argue that Sarawak, with its record revenues, should be channelling funds towards helping the rural poor.
Of the three million people in Sarawak, approximately one million reside in more than 6,000 rural settlements across the state. – August 15, 2024.
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