Dennis seeks govt help to improve logging roads in Baram
MIRI: Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau has requested the government to assign the Public Works Department (JKR) to help improve the logging roads in Baram.
According to Dennis, the hundreds of kilometres of dirt roads were built by several logging companies as part of their corporate social responsibility.
The roads link over 80 longhouses and settlements scattered sparsely across the Telang Usan constituency.
“I have many sleepless nights thinking of ways to repair the badly damaged logging roads currently used by my constituents. The roads need constant repair and rehabilitation as they are exposed to rain and sun,” Dennis told The Borneo Post yesterday.
He lamented that maintenance of the roads was done only by the logging operators.
“We appreciate their assistance but what worries me most is these logging companies are moving far from longhouses and have even downsized their operations.
“This makes it very costly for logging companies to do regular repair on the roads. Not only roads but the hundreds of big and small bridges need repair too,” said Dennis.
During the last State Legislative Assembly sitting, Dennis brought up the need for the government to bring back the JKR mobile road repair team especially to address the needs and calls from village headmen for roads leading to their villages to be repaired.
“This to me is the only immediate way for the government to alleviate the sufferings of our rural folks who go through the bad roads almost every day and to stay true to our promise to bring development to our rural populace, the effort and strategy started by our late Chief Minister Tok Nan ( Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem).
“We applaud the government’s effort to form the Highland Development Agency to look seriously into rural shortcomings and development needs. The formation of the special agency is the way forward,” he added.
However, Dennis acknowledged that it would take a huge amount of money and time for the government to upgrade and tarseal the roads and improve the bridges.
“So I urge the Chief Minister to look into my constituency’s request for this need.
“We do not expect the government to be able to build us nice roads as what the Semenanjung people get to enjoy in the next few years, but we would be happy with motorable roads,” he added.
Dennis also urged the government to set up a JKR office at Long Lama town in Telang Usan District.
“The former Long Lama subdistrict office is in perfect shape and should be turned into the JKR Long Lama branch office.
“This is where the JKR mobile unit can be stationed – smack in Telang Usan constituency littered with former or current logging dirt roads with hundreds of junctions and kilometres in length,” he said.
Dennis expressed his excitement with the plan by Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and the state government to construct up to more than 3,000 new telecommunication towers all over the state including in Telang Usan to enable the state to embrace the digital economy.
“This is one very good reason why we want the roads to be cemented or tarsealed to enable potential buyers to travel with ease to meet sellers all over Telang Usan.
“Ulu Baram people are known for their high quality products such as bird’s nest, durian and handicrafts, not to mention the huge tourism business potential available,” he said.
I have many sleepless nights thinking of ways to repair the badly damaged logging roads currently used by my constituents. Dennis Ngau, Telang Usan assemblyman