NATIVES from the Penans and Orang Ulu communities in the Baram district in northern Sarawak have resorted to repairing a collapsed road on their own in a desperate bid to get to the outside world after being cut off for days.
A body representing Sarawak natives - Dayak National Congress - has been trying to help the stranded natives.
Its president Paul Raja confirmed to The Vibes today that the affected natives are doing their "own repair works" at the collapsed section by using rocks, leftover logs and wood to plug the missing link.
"They are trying to repair the collapsed section on their own as no one had gone in to help.
"That collapsed road is their only link to the nearest town of Long Lama," he said.
The key rural road which links the big population of interior natives in the remote Baram district to the outside world collapsed days ago, cutting them off from food and fuel supplies.
To make matters even more disheartening, their pleas for help to local politicians and state authorities in Baram had apparently gone unheeded as the affected villagers had told Raja.
The collapsed road is located near the populated settlements of Long Lellang and Long Nen.
There are many more settlements further beyond that section.
Raja, who is himself a Baram native, said the road started cracking up more than a week ago and had now collapsed.
"The road is the only link for many people in the upper reaches of Baram to the nearest town of Long Lama.
"Aside from populated settlements, that road is the only link to a government clinic and schools in the upper reaches.
"The transportation of crucial daily necessities such as foodstuffs and fuel had been disrupted and villagers had to carry heavy loads of these daily essentials across the collapsed section as the transporters could not pass through.
"The villagers said they had already informed certain politicians and the local authorities but nothing has been done to repair the collapsed road. We (DNC) hope these politicians will not wait until there is a public election to do the repairs" he exclaimed.
Raja, a lawyer, said rural roads are often damaged due to extensive use by heavy vehicles of logging companies.
"The promises made by those in power to address these urgent infrastructure issues often went unfulfilled.
"The concerns and plights of the rural people must be given urgent priority. Don't just make grand announcements during elections," he said.
The upper reaches of Baram have a big population of natives from the Kenyah, Kayan and Penan ethnic groups.
The collapsed road is located about six hours from Miri city. - The Vibes, June 17, 2024.
